Life for DEI is about as dangerous as a slightly sloped roof these days, with corporations rushing to dump diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives like an unwanted Biden grandchild.
The latest is Microsoft, who sparked an internal uprising after they axed a DEI team, with their DEI internal team leader slamming the notion that diversity was "no longer business critical," according to an email obtained by Business Insider.
No longer business critical? Was it ever?
After the explosion of DEI in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter riots in 2020, Google, Meta, Zoom and others have all quietly stepped back.
Diversity is so 2020.
Microsoft isn't admitting how many people have been laid off, and their official line is still sunshine and (literal) rainbows, claiming their "D&I commitments remain unchanged."
According to that leaked email, though, it sounds like the DEI team leader felt Microsoft was just going through the motions. They had pledged $150 million for DEI programs, mandated racial allyship training, and promised not to make these initiatives a "one-time event."
Skip forward to 2024, and these grand plans have found their way into the dustbin. And their promise to double the number of black leaders by 2025? No updates either.
Jeff Jones, a Microsoft spokesperson, insists their focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering. But he conveniently left out any mention of the employees who just lost their jobs.
Classic corporate spin: "We're still committed, just with fewer people working on it."
At this point, if you're scared of layoffs, the Secret Service might be the place for you.
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