As the country prepares for a second Trump administration, companies are getting ahead of the curve to maintain compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling.
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard has complicated the matter of affirmative action. Despite the case centering around schools and higher education specifically, companies are also adjusting their diversity policies in order to protect themselves from possible litigation.
Companies that have already altered their diversity enterprises include Lowe’s, Amazon, Ford, Meta and Walmart, McDonald’s, Target and more.
In a letter sent to all McDonald’s franchises the company states, “We are retiring setting aspirational representation goals and instead keeping our focus on continuing to embed inclusion practices that grow our business into our everyday process and operations.”
They are also retiring their Supply Chain’s Mutual Commitment to DEI pledge in favor of a “more integrated discussion with suppliers about inclusion.” Corporate will now refer to McDonald’s diversity team as the global inclusion team.
McDonald’s workforce diversity: A mixed picture
While the company’s crew worker base is significantly diverse, these rates are not matched at the senior role level. In the U.S. Black workers account for nearly 35% of McDonald’s restaurant staff. However, they only make up 11% of corporate staff. The numbers are even more disheartening for senior roles. In 2020, roughly 10% of senior roles at the corporate level were occupied by Black people.
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Fast food and the legacy of food insecurity
It’s not unknown that Black communities have historically struggled with access to clean healthy foods. Outdated practices like redlining have perpetuated food insecurity. For example, there might not be a convenient option for fresh produce in Black communities, but there is an over-abundance of fast food options.
As DEI initiatives face scrutiny, how can communities hold corporations accountable for equity while addressing systemic issues like food insecurity? One way would be for companies such as McDonald’s to create more community-based initiatives. This could include programs that aid in the creation of more healthy options in underserved communities.
Growing threats to DEI
With Donald Trump officially sworn into office, many government programs are already facing significant adjustments. Reproductiverights.gov, a federal sight that hosted information surrounding reproductive care, has gone dark. Likewise, similar government websites have also disappeared in the days following Trump’s second inauguration.
Federal sites devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion are no longer available. The White House has threatened agencies with “adverse consequences” if they fail to report DEI-related resources or information within the first 10 days of the administration.
In an email sent to the staff of several agencies, the White House warned against the use of coded language to disguise DEI efforts. Agencies removed most of the pages that touted its commitment to boosting diversity in daily operations.
Government employees who were staffed by DEI offices have been placed on paid administrative leave. Additionally, they must terminate all DEI-related trainings and contractors.
