Meta Shifts Focus: A New Era for Diversity and Inclusion
In a surprise move, Meta has announced plans to discontinue several internal programs aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion within the company. This decision comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and marks a significant shift in the company’s approach to hiring and development.
A Changing Landscape
According to Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of people, the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is undergoing a significant transformation. Recent Supreme Court decisions have signaled a shift in how courts will approach DEI, reaffirming the principle that discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted based on inherent characteristics.
Rethinking DEI
The term “DEI” has become increasingly politicized, with some interpreting it as promoting preferential treatment of certain groups over others. In response, Meta is refocusing its efforts on building cognitively diverse teams, bringing together individuals with diverse knowledge, skills, political views, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. This approach is designed to drive innovation, solve complex problems, and identify new opportunities, ultimately serving everyone.
Changes Ahead
As a result of this shift, Meta will be ending its “Diverse Slate Approach,” which considered qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for open roles. The company will also disband its diversity supplier program and equity and inclusion training programs. Additionally, the DEI team will be disbanded, and Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams will move into a new role focused on accessibility and engagement.
Employee Reaction
The announcement has sparked criticism from some Meta employees, who argue that the company is abandoning its core values. One employee commented, “If you don’t stand by your principles when things get difficult, they aren’t values. They’re hobbies.” The reaction has been swift, with over 600 colleagues responding to the post.
A Broader Context
This decision is part of a larger trend of policy reversals at Meta, including the replacement of global affairs head Nick Clegg with Joel Kaplan and the introduction of a new speech policy that ends the company’s third-party fact-checking program.
What Remains
Despite these changes, Meta remains committed to its core principles of serving everyone and building a multi-talented, industry-leading workforce from all walks of life. The company believes that no one should be given or deprived of opportunities based on protective characteristics, and that cognitively diverse teams are essential to driving innovation and growth.
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