In Brief Amazon is now the latest company to curb some of its DEI programs, Bloomberg reports, after Meta announced that it, too, is ending its diversity efforts earlier on Friday. An internal memo that was sent to staffers said that the company was looking to wind down outdated programs and materials as part of a review of its current initiatives.  “Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes — and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture ...

Amazon is halting some of its diversity and inclusion initiatives, joining a growing list of major corporations that have announced similar moves in the face of increasing public and legal scrutiny.In an internal note last month to staffers obtained by CNBC, Candi Castleberry, Amazon's VP of inclusive experiences and technology, said the company was in the process of "winding down outdated programs and materials" as part of a broader review of hundreds of initiatives."Rather than have individual groups buil ...

Following a week in which Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta was getting rid of factchecking, as of Friday the company is also terminating its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, effective immediately.An internal memo from Meta acknowledged that “the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing”, while pointing to recent supreme court decisions and the “charged” view some have of DEI as a concept. Axios and Business Insider firs ...

Meta is reportedly killing its DEI programs — just days after CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the tech giant would no longer restrict speech on its popular social media platforms.The Facebook, Instagram and Threads parent said it will no longer take the controversial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies into consideration before hiring, training and picking suppliers, Axios reported Friday. According to a memo sent by Janelle Gale, vice president of human resources, the company said it was pivoting a ...

Meta's DEI Rollback and Employee Reaction - Meta announced the rollback of its DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, leading to significant internal criticism [1][2] - Over 390 employees reacted with a teary-eyed emoji to the internal post announcing the changes, while 200 reacted with a shocked emoji and 195 with an angry emoji [2] - Employees expressed disappointment, with comments such as "This is unfortunate disheartening upsetting to read" and "What happened to the company I joined all those years ago" [2][4] Changes to Content Moderation Policies - Meta's decision to roll back DEI initiatives follows changes to its content moderation policies, including the elimination of third-party fact-checkers in favor of a community notes model [2][5] - The updated guidelines allow users to make allegations of mental illness or abnormality based on gender or sexual orientation, citing political and religious discourse [3] Internal Criticism and Leadership Response - Meta's VP of HR, Janelle Gale, stated that the term DEI has "become charged" and is seen by some as suggesting preferential treatment, leading to the decision to eliminate DEI-focused teams [4][5] - Employees criticized the move, with one stating, "I am ashamed to work for a company which so readily drops its apparent morals because of the political landscape in the US" [4] - Another employee expressed concern that the changes "go against what we as a company have tried to do to protect people who use our platforms" [4]

Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg attends the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024.Meta on Friday told employees that its plans to end a number of internal programs designed to increase the company's hiring of diverse candidates, the latest dramatic change ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's second White House term.Janelle Gale, Meta's vice president of people, made the announcement on the company's Workplace internal ...

In Brief Axios reports that Meta is eliminating its biggest DEI efforts, effective immediately, including ones that focused on hiring a diverse workforce, training, and sourcing supplies from diverse-owned companies. Its DEI department will also be eliminated.  In a memo leaked to the outlet, Meta said it was making these changes because the “legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing.”  Meta is not alone: Microsoft and Zoom have rolled ...

Meta is dropping many of its DEI initiatives, BI confirmed.The company sent a memo announcing the changes on Friday.Meta's VP of human resources said the legal and policy landscape in the US was changing.Meta is rolling back its DEI programs, Business Insider has learned.AD The company's vice president of human resources, Janelle Gale, announced the move on its internal communication platform, Workplace, on Friday, which was seen by BI."We will no longer have a team focused on DEI," Gale wrote in the memo. ...

A Costco board member has taken aim at companies rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies, calling for businesses to “maximize” DEI instead as the wholesaler faces pressure to join the growing list of brands ditching the controversial practice.Jeff Raikes, co-founder of the Raikes Foundation and former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has served on Costco’s board of directors since 2008, according to Costco’s corporate website.Raikes and other board members have come under scru ...

Costco appears to be bucking the anti-DEI wave with its defense of its diversity initiatives.Data published last year suggests shareholders largely support diversity efforts.Costco's move challenges the perceived popularity of anti-DEI proposals.Costco's board didn't mince words when it came to supporting the company's stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion — a move that openly challenges the staying power of DEI critics ahead of a new presidential administration that has been critical of the measures.A ...