Google has recently reduced its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team, which aligns with other large companies. The move reduces the size of its dedicated workforce for DEI initiatives, indicating a shift away from previous priorities.
Critics argue that this will impact ongoing efforts to create inclusive workplaces, while supporters say it is a practical response to broader economic pressures.
Google claims that DEI goals remain integrated across teams, but some fear this will dilute accountability and progress. This shift raises concerns about the future of corporate DEI programs and their role in promoting equity.
The company’s decision to abandon the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) recruitment targets follows an annual review of its corporate policies. The tech behemoth is also reviewing some of its other DEI initiatives.
US President Donald Trump and his allies have repeatedly criticized DEI policies. Since returning to the White House just over two weeks ago, Trump has directed government agencies to discontinue such initiatives.
“We’re committed to creating a workplace where all of our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities,” a Google spokesperson stated.
“We’ve updated our [annual investor report] language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic.”
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the story.
Google Set 5-Year Goal
Google’s investor reports from 2021 to 2024 stated the company’s commitment to making “diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do”. That line is not in its most recent report, released on Wednesday.
In recent years, Google has been an outspoken supporter of DEI targets, particularly following George Floyd’s murder in 2020 and the subsequent protests.
Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, set a five-year goal of increasing the number of leaders from underrepresented groups by 30%.
According to the company, the proportion of Black people in leadership nearly doubled between 2020 and last year. It also stated that women and Latinos were better represented in those roles. Google is the latest major company to reverse its diversity policies.
Meta, Amazon, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Walmart, and other companies have scaled back their DEI initiatives.
Apple has stood out by opposing this trend. Last month, the tech behemoth’s board requested that investors vote against a proposal to end its diversity policies.
LGBTQ+Backlash
The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) proposed that the iPhone maker abandon its DEI policies, claiming they expose firms to “litigation, reputational, and financial risks”.
Last week, a group of shareholders, led by the City of Riviera Beach Police Pension Fund in Florida, sued Target, alleging that the company defrauded them by concealing the risks associated with its DEI policies.
The lawsuit cited a 2023 backlash against LGBTQ+ merchandise in its stores, which caused both sales and stock prices to fall.
Target also recently announced that it would discontinue its DEI targets.
In the most recent example of the Trump administration’s disapproval of such policies, the US President speculated last week, without providing evidence, that DEI had caused an air crash in Washington.
The remarks made less than 24 hours after the crash were consistent with the White House’s efforts to reverse such programmes.
