'We are and always have been a meritocracy'
Accenture is ending its global diversity and inclusion goals in the wake of a growing anti-DEI landscape in the United States, according to reports.
Accenture chief executive Julie Sweet told employees in a memo that the professional servicess company would begin "sunsetting" its diversity goals that were set in 2017, The Financial Times reported.
It would also scrap its career development programmes for "people of specific demographic groups."
According to the chief executive, DEI would no longer be used to measure staff performance. It will also pause its data submissions to external diversity benchmarking surveys.
Sweet attributed the decision to an evaluation of their internal policies and practices as well as the "the evolving landscape in the United States, including recent Executive Orders with which we must comply."
Trump recently issued an executive order that places on leave all federal employees of DEI programmes and initiatives. His orders further fuel the growing anti-DEI movement in the US, which other executives are trying to topple by placing more focus on merit.
Sweet, in her memo, also stressed similar remarks: "We are and always have been a meritocracy."
Accenture has 799,000 employees all over the world, where women make up 48% of its workforce and 30% of managing director roles, Reuters reported. On its website, the company devoted a section to diversity and inclusion:
“As part of our talent strategy, we hire and develop people who have different backgrounds, different perspectives and different lived experiences. These differences ensure that we have and attract the cognitive diversity to deliver a variety of perspectives, observations and insights which are essential to drive the innovation needed to reinvent, and we hold our leaders accountable for ensuring we have the most innovative and talented people in our industry.
“We recognize that some people come to Accenture having faced obstacles as an aspect of their identity or lived experience. At Accenture, we are committed to harness these perspectives and ensure that all of our people have the opportunity to thrive and unlock their full potential. We are committed to equal opportunity and a workplace free from bias. We are a meritocracy.”
Accenture's withdrawal on DEI efforts adds it to the growing list of organisations that have been altering their DEI programmes as of late. Some of the previously reported ones include:
While Trump's orders impact federal employees, Attorney General Pam Bondi also recently issued a memo that says the Department of Justice will eliminate "illegal" DEI programmes in the private sector.
"To fulfill the nation's promise of equality for all Americans, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division will investigate, eliminate, and penalise illegal DEI and DEIA preferences, mandates, policies, programmes, and activities in the private sector and in educational institutions that receive federal funds," the memo read.
Trump's measures to cut DEI initiatives in the federal government have been met with opposition from various civil groups.
The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) said it was "outrageous" that Trump is rolling back critical DEI programmes.
"DEI programmes help ensure that everyone can prosper. It's clear that President Trump does not value equal opportunity," NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement.
"This executive order threatens public services that benefit all Americans; it's an attempt to consolidate power and money to a few wealthy individuals. And poor and working-class people will pay the price."
Trump's move to blame DEI initiatives on the fatal plane crash near the Reagan Washington National Airport in January also received criticism.
"President Trump's words are not only offensive to the victims of this accident, but they spread a false narrative that DEI policies harm businesses, only encouraging more corporations to roll back their commitments to increasing access to marginalised groups," said Portia Allen-Kyle, Interim Executive Director of Colour of Change, in a statement.
Trump's efforts to cut back on DEI in the federal government are already prompting a shift in the private sector.
But Rosa Nuñez, DEI consultant and officer, said on LinkedIn that she firmly believes there are ways for businesses to continue advancing DEI while remaining compliant with Trump's government.
She shared the following steps that employers can do now, including:
