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Attorneys General from 13 States Urge Walmart to Reevaluate DEI Decision

One of the most recent companies to retreat from its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals is Walmart, which has phased out several of its initiatives and removed the terms “diversity” and “DEI” from its documentation.

A number of state attorneys general, however, are expressing alarm about the action and are urging Walmart to reevaluate the modifications.

The letter to Doug McMillon, the CEO of Walmart, was signed by attorneys general from thirteen states. They want to hear how Walmart plans to uphold civil rights in the workplace and why the corporation is reversing its diversity policies.

When the company announced the changes in November, it said it would no longer prioritize diverse suppliers, organize diversity trainings, or use the terms “diversity” and “DEI” in its language.

Rather, the business has begun using the phrase “belonging” in its communications. Additionally, it ceased gathering demographic information on possible suppliers.

Threats to boycott, lawsuit, or otherwise harm Walmart’s bottom line may have played a role in your decision to renounce your DEI commitments, according to 13 Democratic attorneys general who have responded to the actions. However, we are worried that Walmart overlooked the employees and customers who would be harmed by this departure.

“There could be economic pressure from the other side of things which is, quite frankly, the majority of the United States. Women and minorities buy as well, have purchasing power as well,” he stated. “On the heels of George Floyd’s murder, Walmart had stepped forth and said that we’re making a commitment to the very thing that they’re now abandoning. So I question how genuine that commitment was.”

Attorneys General from 13 States Urge Walmart to Reevaluate DEI Decision

It’s not just Walmart that’s taking steps to withdraw from diversity, equity, and inclusion. Other large firms, like McDonald’s, Meta, Ford, Molson Coors, and a number of others, are also discontinuing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) projects.

A significant number of the modifications were implemented as a result of the decision made by the Supreme Court in the summer of 2017 to do away with affirmative action in educational institutions; nevertheless, this decision does not have any bearing on private companies.

Workers themselves have varying opinions regarding the matter.

According to statistics collected by Pew Research in November, twenty-one percent of workers believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a terrible idea. This represents a five percentage point increase from the previous year.

“I understand people have certainly suffered in recent years just to make ends meet, getting paycheck to paycheck, some of them have their employment and some have taken to trying to convince such people that it is because somebody else is taking your opportunity,” Raoul stated. “Frankly, the numbers don’t reflect that. The numbers do not reflect that DEI programs or any other programs are taking away these opportunities in any significant number from others.”

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A year ago, 52% of respondents believed that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace was a positive thing. This number has decreased by 4 percentage points since then.

However, firms have been urged to withdraw from DEI as a result of political and public pressure, and Donald Trump, who is the next president, has made it clear that he is opposed to initiatives of this kind.

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