Apple shareholders recently voted against dismantling the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, rejecting a proposal put forth by a conservative think tank.
The vote at Apple’s annual meeting held significance as other major companies had dissolved their diversity initiatives following President Donald Trump’s executive orders to eliminate DEI programs in federal government agencies.
The big picture: The National Center for Public Policy Research presented a proposal to Apple shareholders, raising concerns about legal implications associated with diversity programs in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
- Apple defended its existing compliance program and emphasized that the proposal aimed to restrict the company’s ability to manage its operations and teams effectively.
Zoom out: In a similar vein, the conservative group asked Costco to report on the risks of maintaining diversity and inclusion initiatives, but Costco shareholders overwhelmingly voted against this proposal in January.
- Several major companies such as Walmart, Target, Chevrolet, Exxon, and McDonald’s have made adjustments to their DEI strategies, with some choosing to reshape or disband their programs. Notably, Goldman Sachs no longer mandates companies it takes public to have a minimum number of diverse board members.
- Silicon Valley giants like Meta and Google have also scaled back their DEI efforts, reflecting a broader trend among tech companies.
