(Reuters) – Apple’s board of directors has advised shareholders to vote against a proposal seeking the elimination of the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, as per a proxy filing by the tech giant. The proposal was submitted by the National Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, urging Apple to consider terminating its “Inclusion & Diversity program, policies, department, and goals.”
Citing recent Supreme Court rulings, the proposal argued that DEI initiatives present “litigation, reputational, and financial risks to companies” and could potentially expose Apple to legal challenges. In response, Apple emphasized its robust compliance program and deemed the shareholder proposal unnecessary. The company characterized the proposal as an inappropriate intervention in its business strategy.
“Apple is an equal opportunity employer and does not engage in any form of discrimination in recruitment, hiring, training, or advancement based on protected characteristics,” stated the iPhone manufacturer in the filing. The initial report was from TechCrunch.
This development comes amidst a trend in which several prominent companies, including Meta and Amazon, are phasing out diversity programs in anticipation of the return of Republican Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency. Conservative opposition to such initiatives has been gaining momentum, with conservative organizations condemning DEI efforts and threatening legal action against corporations. This increased pushback was fueled by a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that invalidated affirmative action in university admissions.
The shifting landscape underscores how some of the country’s largest corporations are responding to a growing conservative backlash against diversity programs. The resistance gained momentum following widespread protests following the killings of George Floyd and other Black individuals by law enforcement in 2020.
(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru)
