The Great DEI Dance: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
By a hybrid of wit, wisdom, and a sprinkle of cheekiness.
Welcome to the Rollercoaster of Corporate Ethics!
Ah, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)—the trio every company seemed to be dating after the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. But much like a bad relationship, it seems a number of these companies are now ghosting their DEI commitments! I mean, who knew that a solid attempt at social progress could turn into corporate footwork quicker than you can say “cancel culture”?
Let’s take a gander at some of the bigwigs making exit strategies in this waltz of workplace policies, like Jack Daniel’s, Ford, and even Toyota. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, it appears that the very brands you trust to help you unwind and travel—are now wandering off the DEI dance floor!
Jack Daniel’s: No More Justice, Just Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s recently penned a heart-wrenching letter declaring they’re kicking their diversity objectives to the curb. Let’s read between the lines: “The world has evolved.” Well, let’s hope the company grows out of its “old-fashioned” approach too. Who knew whiskey was the secret ingredient for abandoning social accountability?
A spokesperson seems awfully fond of saying, “the business has changed and the legal and external landscape has changed dramatically.” Yes, because nothing says “we care” quite like prioritizing profits over principles. What’s next, a whiskey-flavored version of ‘Black Mirror’ – “The World of Corporate Shenanigans”?
Harley Davidson: Sorrow Over Social Media
And let’s not overlook the plight of Harley Davidson, caught in a web of digital drama. Apparently, they found themselves saddled with a case of the ‘internet blues’ after some less-than-flattering comments popped up on social media. It’s a tough world when your brand’s essence is reduced to trolling comments and tweets from people in their mom’s basement!
So what did they do? They decided to withdraw from DEI initiatives to avoid division within the Harley community. You know, riding motorcycles is supposed to foster freedom and rebellion—a spirit untouched by divisive politics…until it isn’t. Cool bikes and division—it’s more complicated than that dodgy relationship with your ex!
The Supreme Court: The End of Affirmative Action, or Just Another Plot Twist?
Then comes the United States Supreme Court, riding in on a metaphorical Harley to banish affirmative action policies from schools. Hold onto your helmets, folks—this domino feels monumental! And with that, like a row of exhausted dancers, companies crack under legal pressure and “reevaluate” their inclusion policies.
One must wonder if they forgot they were supposed to invite everyone to the party, or if they simply opted for a smaller Alex Reed list, because you know… “favors.”
Toyota: The Shift to STEM—Stop That DEI Racket!
Meanwhile, Toyota is taking a hard pivot, pointing its focus toward STEM initiatives. Someone at Toyota thought, “Why bother with DEI when we can play with robots?” In a time when diversity seemed vital, they’re opting for good ol’ education—nothing says “inclusivity” quite like funnels, numbers, and tech.
Meanwhile, in the tech realm, Google feels the heat and scrubs plans to boost minority representation by 30% by 2025. Oh Google, how do you spell “just kidding?” It’s as if we’re witnessing a tech shrug: “Yeah, let’s put human beings and their complexities on the back burner.” Who needs diverse perspectives when you have algorithms, right?
The Bottom Line: An Abrupt Shift in Corporate Priorities?
To sum it up, this corporate flip-flop on DEI policies shows a rather alarming trend—one where American companies are placing the big emphasis on tech and economic efficiency over making ethical strides. It’s a game of “who will go broke first” among the brands that sold their soul to the profit gods while the important social issues take a backseat.
At this rate, our post-pandemic world will be filled with the latest gadgets—everything shiny and automated, while the very fundamentals of diversity and inclusion gather dust in the corner. Welcome to the new era of “We mean well, but, y’know, our bottom line.” Ain’t it quite the tangled tale? Who knew the DEI dance was so easy to abandon?
In the United States, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies introduced by many companies after the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 are currently being phased out. This trend is evident in the abandonment of these policies by companies such as Jack Daniel’s, Ford, Caterpillar, Harley Davidson, and even the Japanese company Toyota.
Jack Daniel’s, for example, announced at the end of the summer in a letter distributed on August 22 that it was abandoning its diversity objectives in hiring and procurement. The decision is justified by a change in both the legal and economic fields in the United States. A spokesperson for the brand stressed that “the world has evolved, (its) business has changed and the legal and external landscape has changed dramatically”.
For Harley Davidson, it is a bad image projected on the internet which motivated this change of direction, the brand claiming to be “saddened by the negativity which has reigned on social networks in recent weeks” and which “aims to divide the Harley community -Davidson.”
One of the factors influencing these decisions is a recent measure by the United States Supreme Court, which in June 2023 put an end to the policy of affirmative action in universities, accused by some of unfavorably targeting Asian students. This served as a catalyst for several companies deciding to re-evaluate their inclusion policies.
For its part, Toyota is now focusing on educational programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, rather than DEI initiatives. In tech, resources tend to be redirected towards the development of artificial intelligence, as shown by Google, which has abandoned its objective of increasing the number of minorities by 30% by 2025. A human resources consultant describes these “bullshit jobs” policies, claiming that they generate “jobs that do not contribute substantially”.
This rollback on DEI policies signals a notable shift in the priorities of American companies in favor of new technological and economic issues.
