Large companies and prominent universities are firing diversity, equity, and inclusion hires due to falling demand and rising social pressure from students and consumers — suggesting that DEI officials are becoming increasingly more expensive, unpopular, and unsustainable.
“Companies including Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have recently said that high-profile diversity, equity and inclusion executives will be leaving their jobs,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “Thousands of diversity-focused workers have been laid off since last year, and some companies are scaling back racial justice commitments.”
The impetus for hiring DEI officials initially spiked by 55 percent after the death of George Floyd, according to NBC News.
“Instead of creating fair opportunities and a comfortable work culture for Black employees, a pair of recent reports indicate, DEI professionals are losing their jobs, as layoffs across the economy have gained momentum,” NBC News reported. Ironically, as NBC mentions, most DEI officers aren’t African American. Only 3.8 percent of chief diversity officers are black — white people make up a majority.
While 56 percent of U.S. workers support DEI initiatives, only 32 percent of employees state that working in a racially diverse environment is important to them, according to Pew Research Center.
“Black workers are more likely than those in other racial and ethnic groups to say their employer pays too little attention to increasing DEI,” Pew Data research associate Rachael Minkin wrote. “They’re also among the most likely to say focusing on DEI at work is a good thing (78% of Black workers say this), while White workers are the least likely to express this view (47%).”
The unpopularity of DEI officials extends beyond large businesses and corporations. Yesterday, Stanford University announced that it was parting ways with its associate dean of DEI after she “accosted” a Trump-appointed federal judge during his visit to the university’s campus in March.
Months after the incident, Jenny Martinez, dean of Stanford Law School, wrote in an email:
Although Associate Dean Steinbach intended to de-escalate the tense situation when she spoke at the March 9 event, she recognizes that the impact of her statements was not as she hoped or intended. Both Dean Steinbach and Stanford recognize ways that they could have done better in addressing the very challenging situation, including preparing for protests, ensuring university protocols are understood, and helping administrators navigate tensions when they arise.
Steinbach’s attempts to “de-escalate” the situation mirror the trajectory of her own career. Universities and corporations that scrambled to implement DEI initiatives back in 2020 are now realizing that these officers frequently hamper rather than help business practices.
Elizabeth Crawford is a rising senior at Hillsdale College studying politics. A member of The American Spectator’s 2023 intern class, Elizabeth enjoys drinking good tea and plans to pursue a career in journalism.
READ MORE:
Big Business and the GOP: A Spousal Tiff, or Slow-Motion Divorce?
