In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s inauguration, we’re experiencing the most significant shift in how our country is being run. More than 70 of Biden’s executive orders have been revoked in the first few weeks since Trump’s inauguration day on January 20, 2025.
Underrepresented communities, workers, and immigrants express concern about the potential impacts of work ethics and equality in the workplace due to revoked executive orders by President Trump and are now affecting how companies respond to DEI shifts.
DEI stands for, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” in the workplace and academic settings. The executive order 13985 signed by President Biden, advances racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government. The importance of this program is to ensure and promote fair treatment among people who have historically been discriminated against or are subject to discrimination.
The Impact of DEI Initiatives on Companies
Regression in DEI has evoked numerous responses from different companies. As of now, major companies such as Target, Amazon, Meta, McDonald’s, Ford, and more have setback/discontinued DEI.
According to diversity.com, Amazon’s DEI rollback was a response to legal and regulatory pressures and economic challenges. Google has continued to reevaluate its DEI practices due to legal compliance, according to Julian Mark and Gerrit De Vynck at The Washington Post.
On the other hand, according to Miranda Jeyaretnam with Time Magazine, companies such as Apple, Ben & Jerry’s, Costco, Microsoft, and more are defending their DEI policies. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook has said the company may have to change its diversity policies as the US legal landscape shifts, according to Natalie Sherman.
Whether or not companies are willing to preserve their DEI policies or not, Trump’s urges to get rid of diversity programs have made it difficult on both sides due to legal circumstances.
Potential Impact on Workers
Diversity equity and inclusion in the workplace boosts empathy and team cohesion among employees. According to the Pew Research Center, 56% of workers say that focusing on diversity at work is a good thing as of 2023. The incorporation of inclusivity is valuable to employees.
As claimed by Diversio, DEI can contribute to psychological safety and understanding social identity. It allows corporations to foster safer environments for employees to express themselves without judgement. This can boost employee morale, engagement, performance, and overall job satisfaction.
However, with legal issues arising among companies in the United States, diverse workforces express concern for workplace discrimination.
Underrepresented communities such as the LGBTQ+ community, and people of various cultural backgrounds, can become discouraged from self-expression and feel insecure in their workplace setting. Comfort found at their workplace can be replaced by the fear of judgement.
The scale back of DEI impacted by economic challenges, legal and political pressures, and the shift in corporate priorities can limit career development opportunities and reinforce workplace discrimination. Positive impacts from the policies may turn negative due to a setback in diversity.
