Posted 1/7/2024, 5:00:00 PM
Backlash Grows Against Corporate Diversity Efforts Despite Benefits
- Corporate America made big commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in 2020 following George Floyd protests, but efforts now facing backlash
- Recent ousting of Harvard's first Black woman president sparked new criticism of DEI, including from billionaires Bill Ackman and Elon Musk
- Experts say DEI aims to build inclusive workplaces reflecting all of America, not exclude groups; backlash reflects historical resistance to social justice efforts
- Indeed data shows significant drop in 2022-2023 in job ads mentioning DEI after big 2021 increase
- Pulling back on DEI risks lawsuits, turnover, and loss of employees and customers; but some see "diversity fatigue" after unsustainable 2020 promises