If you are not familiar with the term DEI, it stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. According to ABC News, DEI policies were adopted during the 1960s anti-discrimination legislative movement.
Laws such as the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 are some examples of DEI implementation.
In 1961, affirmative action was established by an executive order from President John F. Kennedy. This allowed companies and colleges to consider race in their applicants, promoting diversity and ensuring fair representation of all communities. According to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, affirmative action “became a policy—applied in various settings—designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination among applicants.”
In June 2023, the Supreme Court ruled to ban affirmative action in higher education.
CNN reported that diversity efforts lost momentum after GOP President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s backed corporate deregulation policies. This reduced government oversight in the workplace, making it more difficult to hold companies accountable for discriminatory practices.
The protests and uproar surrounding the murder of George Floyd in 2020 brought attention to all forms of discrimination and revived the pressure on companies to enforce DEI efforts. A LinkedIn analysis reported that chief diversity and inclusion officer roles grew by 168.9% between 2019 and 2022.
The purpose of DEI is to ensure all people have equal opportunities to succeed and advance in schools and the workplace. Its initiatives correct previous discriminatory policies that may have existed in companies across the U.S. Not only does DEI level the corporate playing field for all groups, but it also fosters diversity in cultures, sexual orientations, religions, and disabilities. This diversity brings creativity and different perspectives to companies, producing innovation.
Examples of DEI practices include diverse hiring, unconscious bias training, inclusive management training, blind resume screenings and employee resource groups.
However, former President Donald Trump and other conservative politicians do not share the same view on DEI programs.
Employment Law Worldview reported that the Trump administration issued an executive order “directing all federal government departments and agencies to end DEI practices internally, and DEI federal employees were placed on leave.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis views DEI policies as discriminatory and stated, “DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination.”
Several companies have chosen to cut their DEI initiatives following Trump’s order. Minority communities fear these efforts disregard decades of civil rights progress.
In the past, boycotts have been used to fight discriminatory hiring practices in the workplace. In 1960, the Five and Dime boycott occurred when retail stores refused to hire Black workers for positions beyond low-wage roles. In response, Black communities refused to shop at these stores, encouraging efforts such as sit-ins, where protesters would sit and refuse to leave segregated lunch counters, forcing businesses to change their policies under financial pressure.
On the other hand, several companies continue to defend their DEI programs and stand by their policies. Here is a list:
Costco
ABC News reported that Costco’s board of directors unanimously recommended against voting on a proposal that called for an evaluation and report on any risks associated with the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts. The board said, “Our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion remind and reinforce with everyone at our company the importance of creating opportunities for all. We believe that these efforts enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed.”
Delta Air Lines
Delta’s director of pilot outreach, Eric Hendricks, stated, “DEI is not something that’s going to stop at Delta Air Lines.”
Peter Carter, chief external affairs officer at Delta, stated, “We are steadfast in our commitments because we think that they are actually critical to our business.”
Apple
Apple published a statement on its website saying, “We’re continuing to create a culture of inclusion, increasing representation across teams, and holding ourselves accountable at every level. Because belonging takes all of us.”
Goldman Sachs
A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told ABC News, “We strongly believe that organizations benefit from diverse perspectives, and Goldman Sachs is committed to operating our programs and policies in compliance with the law.”
JPMorgan Chase
In an interview with CNBC, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said, “We will continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the veterans community, LGBTQ, we have teams with second chance initiatives — where I go, with blue states, red states, governors, they like what we do.”
Prada Group
The Prada Group’s website states, “Diversity, an essential element of social sustainability, is a fundamental value for the Prada Group. The appreciation of everyone’s unique qualities is our foundation for creating an inclusive work environment that allows people to reach their full potential.”