What is DEI and why are companies turning away from it?
What is DEI and why are companies turning away from it?
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DEI: Explaining the diversity, equity and inclusion debate
Initiatives for diversity, equity, and inclusion are facing bans across the United States.
President Donald Trump's executive order to dismantle federal Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives came last week, but many U.S. businesses had already started rolling back their structured hiring practices.
DEI, a hiring practice designed to create a diverse and equitable workforce ensuring all employees have equal opportunity regardless of their background, has been met with growing political opposition and drew ire from Trump, who vowed on the campaign trail to rescind then-President Joe Biden's order that put many DEI policies in place.
Many businesses began scaling back their policies amid scrutiny from conservative groups. Others began rolling back following a June 2023 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that ended affirmative action in college admissions.
Here's some more information about what DEI is and what companies have already changed their policies.
What is DEI?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a concept that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups that are "underrepresented or subject of discrimination because of their background, identity and disability," according to Dictionary.com.
The intended purpose of DEI programs was to create opportunities for all people to feel supported and have the resources to succeed, regardless of their race, identity or orientation.
Many businesses and agencies rushed DEI programs into place in the wake of the 2020 protests against the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police during an arrest.
But diversity practices have been around for decades, dating back to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Trump has made clear that he opposed DEI programs like targeted hiring. During the heat of the presidential campaign, Trump supporters took to calling then-Vice President Kamala Harris a 'DEI hire.'
What companies have changed their DEI policies?
Several U.S. businesses have modified their DEI initiatives. Here are some amid a growing wave of companies as conservative backlash grows:
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.
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