Refusing to follow in the footsteps of McDonald’s, Meta or Walmart, the board of directors of the Tech giant voted against a shareholder proposal aimed at drawing a line under these programs criticized by Donald Trump and his allies.
Apple will not abandon its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. As Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches, several large American companies such as McDonald’s, Meta, Ford and Walmart supermarkets have announced that they are ending their DEI programs, the board of directors of the Tech giant is decided against a shareholder proposal to this effect.
The National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, wanted “abandon efforts in DEI”according to an official Apple document submitted Friday to the American market watchdog (SEC). According to this group, programs promoting diversity in recruitment expose companies to potential legal action, after a Supreme Court decision against affirmative action in universities. The board of directors, on which Tim Cook, the boss of the Californian company, sits, however, rejected this argument, emphasizing that Apple has a program “well established” to comply with the law.
Board members accused the conservative think tank of trying to «micromanager» the company. His proposal seeks “inappropriately restricting Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, staff and teams, and business strategies”they stressed. The manufacturer of the iPhone “does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training or promotion”further argued the board of directors. The proposal will be put to a vote by shareholders at Apple’s general meeting on February 25.
