Apple’s Stockholders Block Effort to Terminate Diversity Initiatives

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are not going anywhere, according to a recent communication from Apple shareholders. Investors rejected a conservative research tank’s suggestion to end Apple’s DEI initiatives at its annual meeting on Tuesday.

The National Center for Public Policy Research made the suggestion, claiming that Apple would be in legal jeopardy due to recent Supreme Court decisions and a rise in cases aimed at DEI initiatives. But neither its stockholders nor the IT giant were persuaded. Although the precise number of votes was not disclosed, the rejection was unmistakable.

Prior to the vote, Apple defended its stance, claiming that the business already has a robust compliance procedure and that the idea was superfluous. Additionally, it contended that the plan erroneously attempted to control Apple’s operations and personnel management.

Apple’s position coincides with other big businesses reducing or abandoning their DEI initiatives as a result of legal and political pressure. Walmart, Target, and McDonald’s have changed their initiatives, while financial behemoth Goldman Sachs no longer mandates diverse leadership in startups it assists in going public. Google and Meta, two of the biggest companies in Silicon Valley, have reduced their DEI expenditures.

Apple’s stockholders supported the company’s dedication to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace in spite of this tendency. Their choice came after Costco made a similar one in January after its investors decisively turned down a similar plan.

The vote is taking place while corporate America’s diversity initiatives are coming under more and more scrutiny. Affirmative action in college admissions was overturned by the Supreme Court last year, and Donald Trump dismantled DEI programs across the federal government with executive orders when he was president.

Apple, meanwhile, is still making significant investments in its US business. A day prior to the vote, the business declared that it would increase the manufacturing of AI servers and hire 20,000 new workers, spending $500 billion over the next five years.