US companies tweak diversity policies as challenges mount
Adds Boeing and Walmart
Nov 26 (Reuters) -Walmart WMT.N became the latest U.S. company to cut back some diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs meant to boost racial and ethnic representation at workplaces against the backdrop of rising pressure from conservative groups.
At least six major U.S. companies, including JPMorgan Chase JPM.N, modified their DEI policies last year, according to a Reuters review of corporate statements.
Here is a list of companies that have either dropped the DEI program or made tweaks to some of the policies in 2024:
Company | Statement |
Starbucks SBUX.O | In March, the coffee giant's shareholders voted for an executive compensation plan that dropped a bonus related to DEI goals. |
Tractor Supply TSCO.O | The company in late June said that it would no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), which advocates for LGBTQ rights. Tractor Supply also said it would eliminate DEI roles and retire its current DEI goals. |
Deere DE.N | The company said in July it would not participate in or support external social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events. The farm equipment maker also reaffirmed that the existence of diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy. |
Harley-Davidson HOG.N | In August, the motorcycle manufacturer said it would not participate in the HRC survey and had ended its DEI initiatives. |
Brown-Forman Bfb.N | The Jack Daniel's maker said it would ensure executive incentives and employee goals are tied to business performance, end participation in the HRC survey and scrap its quantitative workforce and supplier diversity goals. |
Lowe's LOW.N | The home improvement chain will no longer participate in HRC surveys and will combine its various business resource groups that represent diverse employees into one umbrella organization. Lowe's said in August it would not sponsor or participate in community events such as parades, festivals, or fairs. |
Ford Motor F.N | The automaker said it will change its DEI program, including ending participation in an LGBTQ advocacy group's ranking system. |
Molson Coors Beverage TAP.N | The beer maker said it will end participation in the HRC index, and will tie executive incentives to business performance and not aspirational representation goals beginning next year. |
Boeing BA.N | The planemaker has dismantled its global diversity, equity and inclusion department according to Bloomberg News. Boeing's diversity vice president Sara Liang Bowen announced in October on LinkedIn that she had left the company. |
Walmart WMT.N | The retail bellwether will no longer consider race and gender to boost diversity when granting supplier contracts and is scaling back racial equity training. Walmart is also stopping participation in rankings by HRC and also reviewing its support for Pride and other events. |
Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh and Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
