- Apple shareholders reject proposal to end diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
- Its board advised against the proposal, citing business strategy management concerns.
- Apple aligns with Costco, opposing the trend of scaling back diversity programs.
Shareholders at Apple have voted to reject a request to cease its diversity, equity, and inclusion moves.
In their proposal to cease DEI efforts, the National Center for Public Policy Research said the program "poses litigation, reputational, and financial risks to companies." During Apple's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, holders voted against the request. The company didn't immediately provide a breakdown of the vote.
Ahead of the meeting, Apple's board recommended that shareholders vote against the "unnecessary" request. The tech giant said the proposal "inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple's ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies."
Their decision stands in contrast to many major companies that have chosen to scale back their programs. The National Center for Public Policy Research cited some of them as examples that Apple shareholders should seek to follow, including Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft.
Instead, Apple is joining companies like Costco in standing behind DEI efforts. Shareholders for the grocery giant overwhelmingly rejected an anti-DEI proposal last month.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January ending DEI programs in the federal government. As the shift becomes more widespread, many major companies are examining their own policies.
