The malleability of corporate values shows a deeper commitment to profit and people-pleasing than any social responsibility goal.
Corporate America is seeing a largescale rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) policies, with McDonald’s being the latest corporation to announce their withdrawal from certain diversity goals.
The fast-food chain is one of many companies to respond to recent critiques of diversity and inclusion initiatives from conservative figures who feel sidelined by them or consider them too “woke,” by cutting back on DEI programs they once paraded with pride just a few years prior. These programs include equitable hiring practices, diversity training programs, external surveys measuring workplace inclusion, and ones ensuring more individuals from BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in leadership positions.
Major companies introduced DEI initiatives at a time of significant concern for most Americans. The pressure to undertake policies toward achieving further workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion gained mainstream traction back in 2020, following the death of George Floyd which sparked anti-racism protests and direct callouts of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.
Yet, these same concerns and values have evidently swung in a conservative direction, especially with Trump’s second presidential term quickly approaching. It’s no doubt the biggest companies will be strategic about how to navigate this shifting political landscape.
It’s one thing to not have diversity initiatives and to introduce measures and programs for marginalized workers. However, to suddenly abandon these goals signals a regression—a willingness to abandon the very groups companies pledged to .
Therein lies the plasticity of corporate values: shiny on the outside, but hollow within and malleable to the external pressures that threaten their profitability.
Companies often align themselves with consumers by espousing goals that stand with humanity and care about their struggles, as if to distract from their true priority of profit.
We credit corporations too much by suggesting DEI was ever a foundational aspect of their operating mission. Equitable and inclusive initiatives come into play from community demands, but supposedly important company values and policies are just as quick to crumble in the face of boycotts and conservative backlash.
Many companies attribute the decision to pull back from DEI to the “shifting legal landscape,” following the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action in college issions. Further escaping the possibility of legal ramifications, McDonald’s renamed their diversity team to the “Global Inclusion Team”—another effort to use social responsibility buzzwords in place of ability or genuine action to responsibly serve your employees.
Clearly, the competitive advantage of a diverse workforce is no longer enough to ensure McDonald’s economic future.
McDonald’s can repackage or excuse their commitment to social responsibility in any which way, but it’s not hard to see past their cop-out out of previously foundational diversity goals. Corporate America’s actions and true motivations stand loud and clear. Now, it’s time to see if other companies can withstand the pressure of if their commitment to DEI means more than we think.
–Journal Editorial Board
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].