Walmart rolls back DEI policies : NPR

NEW YORK — Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is rescinding its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining a growing list of major companies with similar policies in the wake of attacks by conservative activists.

The changes, which Walmart confirmed Monday, are far-reaching and include not renewing a five-year commitment to the Center for Racial Equity, which was established in 2020 in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. It includes everything from rights indicators to withdrawal. And when it comes to race and gender, Walmart doesn’t give preferential treatment to its suppliers.

Walmart’s move highlights the increasing pressures facing U.S. companies as they continue to weather the fallout from the June 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions. . Emboldened by the decision, conservative groups are suing companies making similar claims, targeting diversity programs, hiring practices and other workplace initiatives that prioritize historically marginalized groups.

Separately, conservative political commentator and activist Robbie Starbuck has been pursuing corporate DEI policies and criticizing individual companies on social media platform X. Later, tractor supplies with Ford, Harley-Davidson, and Lowe’s.

But Walmart is the largest company in the U.S., employing 1.6 million workers.

“This is the biggest victory yet for our movement to end corporate America’s wokeness,” Starbuck wrote of X, adding that he is in talks with Walmart.

Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor third-party marketplace products to ensure they don’t include sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. This includes chest binders for young people experiencing gender transition, the company said.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer will also consider grants to Pride events to ensure they are not financially supporting sexual content that may be unsuitable for children. . For example, the company said it wants to make sure family pavilions aren’t placed next to drag shows at Pride events.

Additionally, Walmart no longer considers race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when offering supplier contracts. The company stated that it does not have quotas and has no plans to set any quotas in the future. No demographic data is collected when determining loan eligibility for these grants.

Walmart also has a racial equity initiative established through a five-year, $100 million philanthropic commitment from the company with a mission to “address the root causes of the achievement gap experienced by Black Americans,” according to the company’s website. He also said the center would not be updated. and African American people in the education, health care, finance, and criminal justice systems. ”

The company will also stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Benchmark Index, which measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees.

“We’re on a journey and we know we’re not perfect, but every decision we make fosters a sense of belonging and opens doors of opportunity for all employees, customers and suppliers, and we strive to help Walmart “It comes from the idea that we want to be for everyone,” the company said in a statement.

The change comes amid conservatives with similar views, including former adviser Stephen Miller, who heads a group called America First Legal, which has criticized DEI efforts and challenged corporate DEI policies. This happened shortly after former President Donald Trump won the election. . President Trump nominated Miller to be the new administration’s deputy director of policy.

A Walmart spokesperson said some of the policy changes have been in the works for some time. For example, we have stopped using the term DEI in job titles and communications and have started using the term “belonging.” In response to the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, the company also initiated changes to its supplier program.

Some are calling for companies to stick to DEI policies. Last month, a group of Democrats in Congress appealed to leaders of Fortune 1000 companies, saying DEI initiatives give everyone a fair chance to achieve the American Dream.