McDonald’s becomes the latest company to roll back diversity practices amid right-wing backlash.
McDonald’s is set to roll back several of its DEI practices, citing the wave of roll backs carried out by other large companies, as well as a recent US Supreme Court ruling.
DEI, or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, are a series of practices, particularly in business, that aim to boost equality for marginalised groups – including LGBTQ+ people – that have historically struggled with employment in large part due to their identity or race.
The international fast-food chain announced Monday (6 January) that it would completely retire specific goals for achieving diversity in its 14,300 locations across the US, following suit with other business giants such as Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson.
The company also said it would be pausing cooperation with what it called “external surveys,” which, while it did not elaborate, is believed to relate to the annual workplace diversity survey headed by LGBTQ+ nonprofit the Human Rights Campaign.
The company cited a “shifting legal landscape,” following a supreme court decision that outlawed affirmative action and DEI initiatives in college admissions.
The decision by the US wing of the company to roll back DEI practices comes at the same time as staff in the UK are currently suing McDonald’s claiming abuse, discrimination and harassment.
