DEARBORN, Michigan – Ford Motor Co. is joining the ranks of companies that have rolled back diversity, equity and inclusion policies in the face of pressure from conservative groups.
CEO Jim Farley sent a memo to all employees on Wednesday explaining the changes, including the decision to stop participating in external culture surveys and an annual Human Rights Campaign survey that measures workplace inclusion of LGBTQ+ employees.
“We will continue to put our efforts and resources into serving our customers, our team and our communities rather than taking a public stance on the many polarizing issues of the day,” the memo said. “There will, of course, be times when we speak out on core issues when we believe our voice can make a positive difference.”
Farley wrote that Ford recognizes that employees and customers have a wide range of beliefs “and that the external and legal environment related to political and social issues is constantly evolving.” The company, he wrote, has reviewed its policies over the past year.
Ford, he wrote, does not apply hiring quotas or tie compensation to specific diversity goals and remains committed to “promoting a safe and inclusive workplace.”
American business has increased its focus on diversity initiatives following widespread protests against racial and gender inequalities in leadership positions following the police killing of George Floyd and other black people in the United States in 2020.
Recently, however, some companies have backtracked under pressure from conservative legal organizations and changed DEI programs that were intended to increase racial and ethnic representation in the workplace. Some companies have received public shareholder letters since 2021 saying their DEI programs constituted illegal discrimination and a breach of directors’ duties to investors.
Groups opposing diversity policies have been buoyed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 ruling invalidating affirmative action in college admissions. That ruling does not directly affect employers. Advocates for greater diversity have said resistance to DEI threatens the advancement of underrepresented groups in companies, especially in leadership positions.
Former President Donald Trump, currently the Republican presidential candidate in the United States, has been highly critical of DEI initiatives.
Robby Starbuck, a conservative political commentator who has targeted companies such as Lowe’s, Tractor Supply and John Deere, wrote in a post on X on Wednesday that he was investigating Ford’s “woke” policies.
Starbuck released Farley’s memo, the contents of which were confirmed by Ford. The company said Wednesday that the memo spoke for itself and declined further comment.
In a statement, the Human Rights Campaign claimed that Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford is groveling before an “internet troll” by abandoning its long-standing values and policies.
“Ford Motor Company is neglecting its financial responsibility to recruit and retain the best talent from across the talent pool,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “Their short-sighted decision will harm the company’s long-term business success.”
Several companies have changed their diversity programs after the U.S. Supreme Court banned the promotion of minorities in college admissions or after facing online backlash from conservatives.
“This is not everything we want, but it’s a good start,” Starbuck said on the social media platform X. “We are now forcing multi-billion dollar organizations to change their policies.”
Contains contributions from Reuters
