While Amazon and Meta have confirmed that they are cutting back on their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, Apple is instead resisting calls to do the same.
The National Center for Public Policy Research has outlined a number of reasons why it is calling on Apple to scrap its DEI initiatives.
It cites US supreme court cases over the last few months, including SFFA v. Harvard and Muldrow v. City of St. Louis, which it claims are calling into question the legality of corporate DEI programmes and also lowering the bar for employees to successfully sue their employers for discrimination.
It cites examples of companies such as Starbucks already being successfully sued for A$41.44 million by an employee claiming discrimination.
It noted that companies such as Alphabet and Meta cut DEI staff and DEI-related investments; Microsoft and Zoom have laid off their entire DEI teams; and Harley Davidson has ceased its DEI efforts.
In a stark warning to Apple, the National Center for Public Policy Research claimed, “Apple’s program includes: a “Supplier Diversity Program” that picks suppliers based on their race and sex; considering and valuing race and sex in hiring and promotion decisions; employing a “VP of Inclusion & Diversity;” employee member groups for some groups (those arbitrarily deemed “diverse”), but not for others; and contributing shareholder money to organizations that advance DEI.”
Apple though has asked shareholders to vote against the proposal to scrap its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
In a notice to shareholders, Apple’s board recommended investors vote against the proposal. It stated that the proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program and the proposal “inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies.” It further argued that its board and management “maintain active oversight of legal and regulatory risks and compliance for our global business.”
The proposal on whether to scrap or maintain its DEI programmes will be voted on at Apple’s annual general meeting on 25 February.
Meta when explaining its decision to cancel its DEI programmes says that the term had become “charged” in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.