Amazon takes further steps to back away from diversity, equity and inclusion

[Craig Nigrelli]

AMAZON IS THE LATEST COMPANY TO REMOVE REFERENCES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION SINCE THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. THE COMPANY FILED ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024 LAST WEEK AND SCRUBBED ANY REFERENCE TO DEI.
AMAZON’S PRIOR ANNUAL REPORT INCLUDED A SECTION TITLED, HUMAN CAPITAL, IN WHICH IT STATED, “As we strive to be Earth’s best employer, we focus on investment and innovation, inclusion and diversity, safety, and engagement to hire and develop the best talent.”
WITH THE MOST RECENT REPORT, UNDER HUMAN CAPITAL, SAYS “WE STRIVE TO BE EARTH’S BEST EMPLOYER. WE RELY ON NUMEROUS AND EVOLVING INITIATIVES TO IMPLEMENT THIS OBJECTIVE AND INVENT MECHANISMS FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT. “
THE WORDS INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY ARE GONE. THIS COMES JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER AMAZON ENDED SOME ITS DEI PROGRAMS. CANDI CASTLEBERRY, VICE PRESIDENT OF INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY TOLD EMPLOYEES IN A MEMO THAT THE COMPANY IS IN THE PROCESS OF “ WINDING DOWN OUTDATED PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS” AS PART OF A BROADER REVIEW OF INITIATIVES.
CNBC REPORTS THAT THE AMAZON WEBSITE PREVIOUSLY HAD SECTIONS DEDICATED TO EQUITY FOR BLACK PEOPLE, LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, THOSE SECTIONS HAVE NOW BEEN SHRUNK TO ONE PARAGRAPH THAT READS – “ We also believe that inequitable treatment of anyone—including Black people, LGBTQ+ people, Asians, women, and others—is unacceptable, and we advocate for policies designed to remove barriers to equity and create an inclusive environment for all employees. “
AMAZON JOINS OTHER COMPANIES INCLUDING GOOGLE, META, MCDONALD’S WALMART AND TARGET, THAT HAVE ENDED OR MOVED AWAY FROM DEI PROGRAMS. OTHERS, SUCH AS COSTCO JPMORGAN CHASE AND GOLDMAN SACHS ARE STANDING BY THEIR DEI POLICIES.
AMAZON IS THE LARGEST ONLINE RETAILER AND TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER, AS WELL AS THE NATION’S SECOND LARGEST EMPLOYER, BEHIND WALMART. IT HAS MORE THAN ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION EMPLOYEES. FOR MORE UNBIASED UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP