The well-known tech giant Apple has bravely defended a shareholder proposal from National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), which called to abolish Apple’s DEI policies. NCPPR said Apple’s DEI policies pose “litigation, reputation, and financial risks”. Apple needs no introduction. By mid-January 2025, it stood as the largest company in the world by market capitalization, at a valuation of US$ $3.46 trillion.
Apple’s brave stand on DEI comes at a critical time, where a policy reversal against DEI by another leading tech giant, Meta, which owns the well-known social platforms Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram, resulted in significant modifications of Meta’s DEI policies only a few days ago (January 13, 2025).
“At Meta, we have a principle of serving everyone. This can be achieved through cognitively diverse teams, with differences in knowledge, skills, political views, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Such teams are better at innovating, solving complex problems and identifying new opportunities…The term ‘DEI’ has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others” Meta said.
Meta’s doing away of its DEI practices comes in the wake of many other major corporations pulling away from DEI. This anti-DEI trend is a result of the shareholder backlash against once cherished DEI policies as well as pressure from the political changes in US that compel companies to revisit their established DEI practices.
Despite many analysts’ anticipation that Apple too would follow on Meta’s footsteps reversing its DEI policies, Apple did not budge and held its ground.
“At Apple, we believe that how we conduct ourselves is as critical to Apple’s success as making the best products in the world. We seek to conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and our Business Conduct and Compliance policies are foundational to how we do business,” Apple said.
Ben Lovejoy, writing in 9to5mac.com sums up the value of DEI in Apple: “Apple has always said that you do what you think is right, and the money will follow. Given that the shareholder resolution says that Apple’s DEI policies go further than anyone else’s, and it’s the most profitable company in the world, you might imagine they would be able to do the math.”
When the world’s largest (market) capitalised company chooses to bravely stand by its DEI policies despite a global maelstrom of confusion on DEI, it’s time to have a closer look at the anti-DEI trend.
A much closer look, indeed!
