Microsoft Terminates its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team
Microsoft has terminated its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team this year, according to an internal email obtained by Business Insider.
The email, sent to thousands of employees, stated that the DEI initiatives were no longer deemed “business critical” or as “smart” as they were in 2020. The email also mentioned that the team was being eliminated due to “changing business needs,” although it did not specify the number of employees affected by the decision.
In response to the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd, Microsoft significantly ramped up its DEI efforts. The company pledged to spend millions on DEI programs, including initiatives to hire more people of color.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized in 2020 that the company was “committed to take action to help address racial injustice and inequity, and unequivocally believe that black lives matter.” Microsoft committed $150 million to diversity and inclusion initiatives and set a goal to double the number of black managers, senior individual contributors, and senior leaders in the US by 2025.
In 2021, Microsoft released a “Racial Equity Initiative” progress report highlighting its DEI efforts. The report detailed millions of dollars spent on “justice reform” and increasing funding for tech education for students at historically black colleges, among other initiatives.
Despite these earlier commitments, Microsoft now seems to be pulling back on its DEI initiatives. This move aligns with a broader trend among several other major companies, including Zoom, Google, and Meta, which have also made cuts to their DEI programs. However, Microsoft has reiterated it is still committed to diversity and inclusion in the future.
“Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work,” said Microsoft spokesperson Jeff Jones in a statement to Business Insider.
