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Ford is the latest company that has cut back its efforts for diversity and inclusion. It has now joined the ever-increasing list of companies changing the legal and political environment within their work culture.
Ford CEO, Jim Farley explained to his employees in an email that the company changed some policies in the running year. It has pulled itself back from participating in external culture surveys that the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ and advocate group, conducted.
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In 2017, Ford flaunted its recognition by the Human Rights Campaign as one of the best places to work, particularly for the LGBTQ community.
Robby Starbuck is happy with Ford’s decision
Right-wing activist, Robby Starbuck was happy to share the news of Ford’s decision and posted a copy of the email on X. The activist said that it was suggested by him that they should be mindful of their DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) efforts in the workplace as US politics keeps on evolving with the several dimensions of the same phenomenon.
Starbuck was a former Hollywood music video director who turned into an activist, now supporting the said move. Several business experts revealed that they could not completely understand Starbuck’s support for such actions. The commitment for these decisions coming from various companies still seems to be dwindling at the moment, they said.
Human Rights Campaign definitely not happy
Human Rights Campaign condemned Ford’s decision and said that the company is showing a type of collaboration with the activist Starbuck’s vision. The firm declared that Ford is “abandoning inclusive employees’ policies and support” and “cowering” to conservative activist.
The CEO, Mr. Farley wrote, “We are mindful that our employees and customers hold a wide range of beliefs. The external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve”.
Although, Mr. Farley assured that Ford would keep welcoming diverse perspectives and building a team and leverage this very aspect to merge a variety of “backgrounds and thinking styles”.
The companies embracing an anti-DEI stance
However, Ford has decided alongside other companies, such as Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply Co., and John Deere. These firms have been stepping back from diversity and inclusion programs, support for the gay community, and LGBTQ community, and strict policies for showing support of climate change and sustainability.
These companies have also stopped sponsoring LGBTQ and Pride festivals along with their voting campaigns. Other strong actions have been taken like that of Tractor Supply Co. that has announced its withdrawal in June from carbon emission reduction goals and elimination of jobs for DEI reduction efforts.
In a news release on Wednesday, the President of the Human Rights Campaign, Kelly Robinson said that Ford’s short-sighted decision would have “long-term consequences”. He was of the view that the company is denying the rights of hiring people who are from different backgrounds and “abandoning its financial duty to recruit and keep the top talent”.
Robinson still asserted that the company is denying the fundamental commitment to the community and that too, publically.
Why some companies are taking anti-DEI steps
After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, several companies showed their commitment to DEI. On the contrary, they are diminishing their efforts for DEI investments.
The driving shift is supposedly because of the changing 2024 political climate in the upcoming elections. It is expected that if Donald Trump wins, he will reverse Biden’s proposed ‘work equity’ programs.
Amidst such endeavors, J.D. Vance, the running mate of Trump would also introduce a bill named “Dismantle DEI Act” that would openly demolish all DEI programs across the country.
DEI is one of the prominent issues in the 2024 election and its surrounding political stances. Many American businesses will now prefer to stay out of public policies.
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