Amazon pauses DEI program, joins growing list of companies cutting back on diversity efforts

Read Time:1 Minute, 25 Second

Amazon is the latest company to discontinue many of its DEI practices, joining a growing list of companies reassessing their diversity and inclusion efforts amid growing public and legal scrutiny. In a Dec. 16 internal memo obtained by CNBC, Candi Castleberry said Amazon's vice president of inclusive experiences announced that the company was “retiring outdated programs and materials” as part of a broader review of its programs. Castleberry explained that Amazon is shifting its focus from individual group-driven programs to those that “rather than having individual groups develop programs, we are focusing on programs with proven results.” The company has not yet disclosed which programs will be killed. , but the company continues to operate various employee resource groups and has set goals to increase the representation of black people in leadership roles. Other tech giants such as Meta have also withdrawn from DEI initiatives, ending approaches such as equity-focused hiring and inclusion training programs. Likewise, companies such as McDonald's, Walmart, and Ford have adapted their DEI efforts in response to conservative backlash and the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling against affirmative action. Additionally, Amazon has revamped its “What We Stand” webpage to consolidate the section on diversity and inclusion into one paragraph, reflecting its streamlined approach. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel noted that these updates ensure that the company's public stance remains consistent with its changing plans and positions. Castleberry’s memo emphasized the importance of building inclusion into Amazon’s core processes, rather than maintaining separate “add-on” programs. Like this: Like Loading… Learn more with Baller AlertSubscribe and get the latest posts delivered to your email.

Source link