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| Ford |
Dearborn, Michigan - Ford Motor Company has made a significant decision to change its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. This change has come in the wake of pressure and criticism from conservative groups. The company announced this decision through its CEO Jim Farley on Wednesday, which has triggered backlash in many areas.
Farley sent a memo to all employees, clarifying that Ford will no longer participate in external culture surveys, including the annual survey of LGBTQ+ employees conducted by the Human Rights Campaign. The company's reasoning behind this decision is that they will focus their resources on taking care of customers, employees, and communities, rather than publicly commenting on polarizing day-to-day issues.
This move marks a turning point for Ford in the area of diversity and inclusion. According to Farley, the company is rethinking its policies to take into account the diverse beliefs of its employees and customers and socio-political changes.
Ford has made it clear that they will not pursue specific diversity goals in their hiring processes nor tie compensation to diversity quotas. Regardless, the company says they remain committed to promoting a safe and inclusive workplace.
After the killing of George Floyd and other racial protests in 2020, corporate America focused on diversity initiatives. However, recently some companies have made changes to their DEI programs, bowing to pressure from conservative organizations that are harsh on these initiatives.
The recent US Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action in universities has emboldened conservative groups against DEI programs. The decision does not have a direct impact on employers, but it has still caused companies to reconsider their policies.
Former President Donald Trump, who is currently the Republican candidate, has been a staunch critic of DEI initiatives. His criticisms have led many companies to make changes to their diversity programs, giving rise to a new debate.
Conservative political commentator Robby Starbuck has criticized Ford's DEI policies and called it an example of "woke" policies. He criticized Ford's decision on social media, calling it a "blowdown".
The Human Rights Campaign has strongly criticized Ford's decision. They say Ford has abandoned its long-standing values and bowed to an "internet troll". They claim that this decision could harm the company's long-term success.
As a result of this change, many companies that were committed to DEI initiatives are now revising their programs. Many companies have changed their diversity programs following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision and conservative backlash online.
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Starbucks has also responded on social media in this regard. He said that this change by Ford is a good start, which could inspire multi-billion dollar companies to revise their policies.
Ford's decision will not only affect the company's internal policies but will also give rise to a new debate on diversity and inclusion issues across the corporate sector. Seeing how many companies adopt this change and how they react to it, we may see more changes in this area in the future.
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