Photo by Maher Meskko
Apple shareholders are anticipated to dismiss an initiative aimed at compelling the technology leader to eliminate its corporate programs focused on workforce diversification.
The proposal, put forth by the National Centre for Public Policy Research, a self-identified conservative think tank, calls on Apple to emulate several prominent companies that have withdrawn from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which are currently under scrutiny from President Donald Trump.
This development follows a similar proposal presented by the same organization at Costco’s annual meeting last month, which was decisively rejected. A comparable outcome is expected at Apple’s annual meeting, despite the strong opposition from critics.
Like Costco, Apple has consistently supported its diversity and inclusion initiatives, asserting that such efforts are sound business practices. However, the National Centre for Public Policy Research has criticized Apple’s commitment to diversity, claiming it conflicts with recent judicial rulings and exposes the company to a wave of potential lawsuits for alleged discrimination. The group estimated that approximately 50,000 Apple employees could potentially file lawsuits against the company, although it did not provide specifics on how this figure was determined.
It is evident that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives present litigation, reputational, and financial risks for corporations, which in turn pose financial risks to their shareholders. This concern is highlighted in a proposal by the National Centre for Public Policy Research.
The potential for legal complications was underscored last week when Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier initiated a federal lawsuit against Target, claiming that the retailer’s recently reduced DEI program alienated a significant portion of consumers and negatively impacted sales, ultimately harming shareholders. In response to the anti-DEI proposal, Apple asserted that its DEI program is a fundamental component of the corporate culture that has contributed to the company’s remarkable market valuation of $3.7 trillion, surpassing that of any other global enterprise. The company emphasized in its statement that the manner in which it operates is as vital to Apple’s success as the quality of its products.
We are committed to conducting our business with integrity, transparency, and adherence to all relevant laws and regulations. In its most recent diversity and inclusion report published in 2022, Apple revealed that approximately 75% of its global workforce comprised white and Asian individuals. At that time, nearly two-thirds of its employees were male.
For many years, other prominent technology firms have reported a workforce predominantly made up of white and Asian men, particularly in well-compensated engineering positions. This trend has prompted the industry to engage in efforts aimed at diversification, which have largely not yielded significant results.
