The employee experience battleground over diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) continues to heat up in America. More businesses face pressure to roll back their initiatives. Some like Facebook have rescinded theirs, with others billing their DEI efforts as “mission accomplished,” or “part of the changing political/legal landscape.” Apple is just the latest target.
For Apple, the latest challenge came from a right-wing think tank and activist investors at the National Center for Public Policy Research’s investor group. Running since 1982, they are a free market campaign group. Much aligned with, but not overly fond of, President Trump’s own efforts.
Apple remains a standout for inclusion
The NCPPR regularly ask businesses at shareholder meetings to reject “woke” agendas. And, at Apple’s latest annual investor gathering explained their stance in legal terms, “It’s clear that DEI poses litigation, reputational and financial risks to companies, and therefore financial risks to their shareholders, and therefore further risks to companies for not abiding by their fiduciary duties.” But then went with the headline “Oh Deere. Apple and John Deere Still Haven’t Awoken to the Risks of Going Woke” when their proposal was rejected. Hinting at their overt agenda.
Apple had already opposed the move, so it was likely to be rejected by shareholders. However, Future changes may hit Apple, with CEO Tim Cook alerting investors that “As the legal landscape around this issue evolves, we may need to make some changes to comply, but our north star of dignity and respect for everyone and our work to that end will never waver.”
DEI adjustments keep business rolling on
Other companies are navigating around the problem, last week Citigroup renamed its “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Talent Management” team to “Talent Management and Engagement” and tweaked its hiring objectives. Others with US government funding or contracts have had to be more blunt in their actions.
Apple has long been pro-diversity and doesn’t hire based on quotas, one of the more controversial tenets around DEI. Whatever changes the company makes, it will still promote “a collaborative culture of inclusion, growth and originality, supported by resources that make a difference in your life.” As explained on the Apple careers page. However, as Apple remains a high-profile target, pressure will only grow.