Meta nixes diversity, inclusion programme

Menlo Park : Joining companies such as John Deere and Walmart, Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta Platforms Inc is getting rid of its diversity, equity and inclusion programme that includes hiring, training and picking vendors, a company spokesperson confirmed on Friday.The move, which was first reported by Axios, comes on the heels of the social media giant's decision to end its third-party fact-checking programme and scale back policies on hate speech and abuse.Citing an internal memo sent to employees, Axios said the Menlo Park, California-based tech giant said the USSupreme Court "has recently made decisions signalling a shift in how courts will approach DEI, "The term DEI' has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others. "The company will also end its "diverse slate approach" to hiring, which meant that a diverse pool of candidates was considered for every open position.Other companies that have curbed DEI programmes recently include McDonald's and automaker Ford as well as Walmart and farm equipment maker John Deere.Amazon also said it is halting some of its DEI programmes, although it did not specify which ones. In a Dec 16 memo to employees that Amazon shared on Friday, Candi Castleberry, a senior human resources executive, said the company has been "winding down outdated programs and materials, and we're aiming to complete that by the end of 2024. But we'll keep at it," she wrote.Rather than "have individual groups build programmes," she added, Amazon is "focusing on programs with proven outcomes and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture."