Factbox-US companies tweak diversity policies as challenges mount

(Reuters) – Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ:) have joined a growing number of U.S. companies in scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), meant to boost racial and ethnic representation at workplaces against the backdrop of rising pressure from conservative groups.

At least six major U.S. companies, including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:), modified their DEI policies last year, according to a Reuters review of corporate statements.

Here is a list of companies that have either dropped the DEI program or made tweaks to some of the policies in 2024:

Company Statement

Starbucks (NASDAQ:) In March, the coffee giant’s shareholders voted

for an executive compensation plan that dropped

a bonus related to DEI goals.

Tractor The company in late June said that it would no

Supply longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign

(HRC), which advocates for LGBTQ rights.

Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:) also said it would eliminate DEI

roles and retire its current DEI goals.

Deere (NYSE:) The company said in July it would not

participate in or support external social or

cultural awareness parades, festivals, or

events. The farm equipment maker also

reaffirmed that the existence of diversity

quotas and pronoun identification have never

been and are not company policy.

Harley-David In August, the motorcycle manufacturer said it

son would not participate in the HRC survey and had

ended its DEI initiatives.

Brown-Forman The Jack Daniel’s maker said it would ensure

executive incentives and employee goals are

tied to business performance, end participation

in the HRC survey and scrap its quantitative

workforce and supplier diversity goals.

Lowe’s (NYSE:) The home improvement chain will no longer

participate in HRC surveys and will combine its

various business resource groups that represent

diverse employees into one umbrella

organization. Lowe’s said in August it would

not sponsor or participate in community events

such as parades, festivals, or fairs.

Ford Motor (NYSE:) The automaker said it will change its DEI

program, including ending participation in an

LGBTQ advocacy group’s ranking system.

Molson Coors (NYSE:) The beer maker said it will end participation

Beverage in the HRC index, and will tie executive

incentives to business performance and not

aspirational representation goals beginning

next year.

Boeing (NYSE:) The planemaker has dismantled its global

diversity, equity and inclusion department

according to Bloomberg News. Boeing’s diversity

vice president Sara Liang Bowen announced in

October on LinkedIn that she had left the

company.

Walmart (NYSE:) The retail bellwether will no longer consider

race and gender to boost diversity when

granting supplier contracts and is scaling back

racial equity training. Walmart is also

stopping participation in rankings by HRC and

also reviewing its support for Pride and other

events.

The social media company ended its DEI

Meta programs, including those for hiring, training

Platforms and picking suppliers.

The ecommerce giant was “winding down outdated

Amazon.com programs and materials” as part of a review of

hundreds of initiatives, according to a memo

sent to employees in December.