Apple pushes back against proposal to abandon diversity programs

Of note. Along with Costco:

Apple’s board of directors recommended investors vote against a shareholder proposal to abolish the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to a proxy filing from the company.

The National Center for Public Policy, a conservative think-tank, submitted a proposal that the company consider abolishing its “Inclusion & Diversity program, policies, department and goals.”

The proposal cited recent Supreme Court decisions, and made the argument that DEI poses “litigation, reputational and financial risks to companies” and could make Apple more vulnerable to lawsuits.

Apple responded that it had a well-established compliance program and the proposal was unnecessary. It added that the shareholder proposal was an inappropriate attempt to micromanage Apple’s business strategy.

“Apple is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training or promoting on any basis protected by law,” the iPhone maker said in the filing. The news was first reported by TechCrunch.

Several major companies, including Meta and Amazon, are winding down diversity programs ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency as conservative opposition to such initiatives grows louder…

Source: Apple pushes back against proposal to abandon diversity programs