Ford Motor has recently joined a growing list of companies that are scaling back their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The automaker has reevaluated its DEI policies and practices in light of the changing external and legal environment related to political and social issues. This move comes after Tractor Supply and Harley Davidson also decided to discontinue their DEI efforts.
Tractor Supply, a retailer, cut ties with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, earlier this summer. They have retired their DEI targets, such as increasing the number of employees of color at the manager level. Similarly, Harley Davidson has stopped consulting the HRC’s metric for the treatment of LGBTQ+ employees and made it clear that they do not have a DEI function.
Lowe’s, a home improvement retailer, has also joined the trend by making changes to their policies. They have expressed the possibility of making additional changes over time. These companies have cited reasons such as conservative backlash and changing social and political environments for their decisions to scale back on DEI efforts.
In line with this trend, Ford has announced that they will no longer use quotas for minority dealerships or suppliers. They have also decided to stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and other “best places to work” lists. The Corporate Equality Index measures participating companies’ corporate equality measures for LGBTQ+ individuals. Ford had previously received a perfect score on this index.
Ford states that as a global company, their focus will be on taking care of their customers, team, and communities rather than publicly commenting on polarizing issues. However, they will speak out on core issues if they believe their voice can make a positive difference.
The decision to scale back on DEI efforts by these companies can be attributed, in part, to conservative activists on social media. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action in colleges, these activists have urged companies to stop investing in DEI. Industrial and organizational psychologist Derek Avery explains that conservative state attorney generals have sent letters to corporations warning them of potential lawsuits if they continue to advocate for DEI practices that could be seen as contradicting the Supreme Court ruling.
This growing trend raises important questions about the future of DEI initiatives within corporations. While companies like Ford are adjusting their approach to DEI in response to external pressures, it remains to be seen how this will impact their workforce and overall diversity and inclusion efforts.
