Companies Are Dropping the D or E From DEI to Avoid Criticism
- In new survey, majority of executives said terminology altered
- It’s unclear how much operations of the programs are changing
Companies such as Toyota and Ford have modified DEI initiatives after being attacked.
Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
After a backlash against DEI programs by conservative activists, a majority of executives in a new survey said that their companies have changed how the initiatives are described with reduced emphasis on racial diversity.
Among more than 60 executives, slightly above 50% said their firms adjusted terminology, with another 20% considering similar changes, according to a survey by the Conference Board. In many cases, companies are dropping “equity” from descriptions because it’s seen as the most controversial term, said Andrew Jones, a senior researcher at the Conference Board’s ESG Center and co-author of the study.