July 21st 2024.
On July 16, John Deere, a well-known farm equipment manufacturer in America, made the surprising announcement that it would no longer be participating in any diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. According to a report by USA Today, the company explained that it was taking this step in order to re-evaluate its internal policies and initiatives, with the goal of maintaining the trust and confidence of its customers.
At John Deere, we place great importance on earning and maintaining the trust and confidence of our customers. It is something that we strive for every day, in every aspect of our business. This decision was not made lightly, and we are committed to making sure that our actions align with our values.
In their statement, the company also mentioned that they would no longer be supporting external social or cultural awareness events, such as parades and festivals. They also revealed that they would be conducting audits of their company policies to ensure that there are no hidden messages that could be seen as socially motivated. Additionally, they clarified that the company does not have diversity quotas or require employees to identify their pronouns, and that these have never been part of their company policies.
It appears that John Deere's sudden change in direction was prompted by criticism from conservative activist Bobby Starbuck. Starbuck accused the company of funding events for children during Pride month, promoting the use of pronouns among employees, and having resource groups for people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. This social media campaign also led to a similar decision by Tractor Supply Company in June. However, these two companies' actions are not reflective of the majority, as highlighted by a survey from the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals and YourCause from Blackbaud.
The survey, which included responses from 96% of corporate social impact professionals from 125 major companies, showed that 83% of DEI commitments have remained the same, and 13% have even increased. According to Carolyn Berkowitz, the president of the association, this is a clear indication that, despite the backlash from conservative groups, corporate support for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives has not wavered.
Joelle Emerson, the co-founder and CEO of Paradigm, also shared her thoughts on this matter with USA Today in May. She noted that while some companies may have changed their approach to DEI, their support for these programs has not diminished. She added that the anti-diversity rhetoric has had a chilling effect, but it has not stopped most companies from continuing their efforts, albeit less publicly.
However, not everyone is pleased with John Deere's decision. John Boyd Jr., the founder of the National Black Farmers Association, expressed his disappointment through an emailed statement to the Washington Post. Just like they did with Tractor Supply, the association plans to call for a boycott of John Deere and the resignation of its CEO, John C. May. Boyd believes that this decision is just one of many that we will see from companies in the future, as they downplay diversity goals and scale back DEI programs aimed at promoting the advancement of marginalized groups.
Eric Bloem, the vice president of the Human Rights Campaign's programs and corporate advocacy department, also shared his disappointment with USA Today. He stated that decisions like John Deere's risk alienating both customers and employees in an effort to please extremists who don't care about diversity and inclusion. Bloem also highlighted the negative impact that abandoning these values can have on a company's bottom line and the American economy as a whole. This is especially concerning in light of recent news that anti-DEI efforts are hindering the recruitment of Black students at medical schools.
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