https://www.newsweek.com/diversity-...efforts-company-corporate-trends-2025-2042922 While the presidential inauguration and changes across the federal and cultural landscape have had a chilling effect on corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, those policies remain an integral part of a sound talent strategy. A recent survey of corporate leaders, including general counsel, HR and diversity officers, by the employment law firm Littler found that 49 percent of C-suite leaders are not considering new or further rollbacks of DEI programs after the Trump administration's executive orders, and that only 8 percent are seriously considering changes. Littler's study also found that, in 2024, three-quarters of the businesses surveyed maintained (46 percent) or increased (30 percent) DEI commitments and activity. Of the C-suite leaders continuing their efforts, "approximately three-quarters said that employee expectations for ongoing [DEI] commitments played a role, suggesting that [DEI] remains an important talent retention and recruitment strategy for many employers even as the environment around those efforts becomes more hostile," a report from Littler indicated in response to the study's findings. Amid the surging sense of DEI backlash in January, Newsweek noted that survey data from Gravity Research showed that 43 percent of companies in the Fortune 100 mentioned DEI in 2023 earnings calls. In 2024, that figure fell to 31 percent, but the study found a 59 percent rise in neutral, related terms such as "belonging" or "diverse perspectives." "Companies are looking at their DEI programs to ensure that they're not engaging in any sort of high-risk areas that have already been challenged, such as fellowship programs that may not be open to all, or having quotas," Jeanine Conley Daves, New York office managing shareholder at Littler, told Newsweek. She added that the 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case has been the reference point companies are using to assess their risk.
Over the past few weeks, members of the Republican legislature in North Carolina have declared the following are DEI programs: A program in Durham which helps poor elderly disabled residents get their garbage bins to the curb on trash days. Many of these residents are black. A trades training program to get people employed in careers such as HVAC, electricians, plumbers, etc. offered via community colleges using government money. Note there are no restrictive guidelines regarding gender, race, etc. to be part of the program. Farm grants and loans given by the state to black farmers. This was part of a court settlement for previous discrimination in lending to farmers with the intent of forcing them off their land. Stopping this funding violates the court settlement by the state. A program focused on getting black youth involved in the 4-H agriculture education programs. The "African American 4-H programs" in our state have a long history in our state since 1911. An afternoon basketball program for youths in Rocky Mount. Note there is no restrictive guidelines regarding gender, race, income, etc. to be part of the program. It's simply that basketball is a "black sport". A 5th grade history program taught in schools about the Greensboro civil rights counter sit-in that has been provided to schools for over 30 years. The problem is that Republican legislators can declare anything they don't like to be DEI --- it does not actually have to be DEI. This is why a bill to criminalize DEI is so concerning. It's one thing to cut public funding to perceived DEI programs, it's another thing to lock up people in prison for anything that you don't like. NC House bill would criminalize using public money for DEI Some North Carolina lawmakers want to go beyond just banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state and local government. A bill that passed a key House committee Tuesday would make it a criminal offense to use public funds to give preferential treatment to any group. https://www.wral.com/story/nc-house-bill-would-criminalize-using-public-money-for-dei/21917143/
MSNBC, NBC Double Down on DEI and Quotas as Trump Administration Pledges To Stamp Out ‘Discriminatory’ Behavior in the Media Business
Roger Goodell has not changed his public position on the NFL's diversity initiatives despite repeated efforts by the Trump administration to erase the policies from American life. The NFL commissioner addressed the topic of diversity again Tuesday, two months after rejecting the idea of discontinuing such policies while speaking at the Super Bowl. Speaking this time at the NFL owners' meetings, Goodell was asked about the lack of Black offensive coordinators in the league and responded by reiterating the league's commitment to diversity. The full question and answer: Question: "This past season and the season ahead, there'll be zero Black offensive coordinators in the NFL. We've seen diversity, progress in other areas such as quarterback coaches — I think it was a league-record number last season. Why do you think that hasn't translated to the offensive coordinator position?" Goodell: That's a question we ask and one of the things we work with to — how do we develop coaches that have the experience and have that kind of potential, which, we know they're out there ,and give them that opportunity. We have an offensive assistant program. We want to make sure that we're using those opportunities to be able to develop coaches that could do that. "We have a lot of great offensive minds in the league, Black, white and young women, too, that are coming into this. There are only so many opportunities so that's always a challenge, but, diversity, I said this back at the Super Bowl, there were a lot of questions on that. I think I've been very clear that we think diversity makes us better, that I think a lot of our policies are designed to give opportunities and develop that talent. A lot of our programs are designed in that way. We're fully committed to continuing that work to try to develop better talent and give them that opportunity and make the NFL better ultimately. "We're all in on that. Obviously, we're going to be fully compliant with federal laws. We always have been and we'll continue to do that, but we believe that our policies had a positive effect, but we never said we're done. We've got more work to do, and we'll do it, and it's going to make us better." There were indeed zero Black offensive coordinators in the league last season and the NFL is poised to have zero next season, despite 14 different teams — 44% of the league — making offensive coordinator hires this coaching cycle. There were also eight Black quarterback coaches, the position most often hired for OC positions, and 10 total of color last season. The league had a record nine minority head coaches last season, though that number will be down to seven this season after the firings of Robert Saleh, Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo and the hiring of Aaron Glenn. The NFL has long had one of the most visible diversity initiatives in sports with the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for any head-coaching or general manager position. The rule has been expanded in recent years to cover coordinator, general manager and team president openings. The league still isn't without its critics and controversies when it comes to diversity and how Black coaches are treated relative to their white peers, with the Brian Flores lawsuit serving as the most visible reminder. There was also the Jim Trotter lawsuit, in which an NFL Network reporter alleged he was fired for questioning Goodell about the matter at a news conference.
I think the Rooney rule is a bad idea to force a team to do show interviews and say "Hey we interviewed a minority!" A better path would be for the NFL to focus on continuing education and training programs for all former players and college coaches who want to get into coaching and need training. You do not need the Rooney Rule if you have many qualified candidates and football coaches' qualifications come from experience which comes from time in position. So now that more minorities are working as lower level coaches they are gaining the experience to move up (like Eric Bieniemy). Why do you think there are so many Black coaches in NBA? Because coaches and former players are given entry into assistant coach positions and receive training and become highly qualified. As with anything in life just create training opportunities and the cream rises to the top.
Certainly understandable The New England Patriots might've technically satisfied the Rooney Rule requirement, but NOT the spirit ... according to longtime NFL executive/GM Rod Graves who says the Pats made a joke of the policy. TMZ Sports spoke with Graves, who after decades working in the NFL as a league executive and general manager, now serves as the Executive Director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an org. dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion within pro football, about the much-debated rule that says teams must interview a minority candidate before hiring a coach. Robert Kraft's football team interviewed two Black head coach hopefuls, Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich, before ultimately hiring Mike Vrabel ... who was expected to land the job from the moment the Patriots fired Jerod Mayo. "It certainly can be debated as to whether or not they went through a fair Rooney rule process in hiring Mike Vrabel," Graves told us while adding he fully understands the former Titans coach has "all the credentials necessary for taking that job." The issue, as Rod explains, is ... "Whether or not [Pep and Byron] were actually given a serious interview," and Graves doesn't think that's the case. "I don't happen to believe that that was the case. And so if you look at it from that standpoint, it was really to make somewhat of a mockery of the process when Mike Vrabel was their intention all along."
I think I will go have a Corona. Beer maker Constellation Brands pulls back DEI initiatives https://finance.yahoo.com/news/beer-maker-constellation-brands-pulls-202041538.html (Reuters) -Corona beer maker Constellation Brands scrapped its diversity, equity and inclusion programs on Tuesday, joining an increasing number of corporations curbing their DEI goals after U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition to them. In January, Trump issued an executive order that directed federal agencies to terminate DEI programs and urged private companies to end "illegal DEI discrimination and preferences." Over the past year, major companies including Walmart, Target and Amazon.com have rolled back their DEI policies, aimed at women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other traditionally underrepresented groups. The brewer renamed its DEI team to inclusive culture team and changed its supplier diversity program to now focus on local small businesses instead of diverse suppliers, according to a statement by CEO Bill Newlands on its website. "As we're all fully aware, we are operating in an increasingly polarized and highly charged environment and a shifting legal landscape related to social and political issues," Newlands said. The Modelo Especial owner said it would end its participation in external surveys by an LGBTQ advocacy group and was pausing all activities beyond their core business priorities. Constellation Brands is set to report its fourth-quarter results after markets close on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, Barclays scrapped its DEI targets across the United States.