Apple Shareholders Reject Proposal To Drop DEI Initiatives

Apple shareholders voted down a conservative think tank’s proposal to jettison the company’s DEI initiatives.

Shareholders of Apple voted against dismantling its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, rebuffing a conservative think tank’s recommendation.

[image or embed] — NBC News (@nbcnews.com) February 25, 2025 at 10:58 AM

Prior to the company’s annual meeting, the shareholders had been presented with a proposal from the conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research, saying recent anti-DEI lawsuits raised concerns about Apple’s own DEI initiatives saying the company could be open to lawsuits from employees. In a statement, Apple said the proposal was “unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program and the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies.” In a similar move, the same think tank approached Costco Wholesale share holders last month about the “risks” of having inclusion and diversity policies. The shareholders sent a strong message as 98% of shareholders said “no” to the proposal.

Director of the National Center for Public Policy Research, the right-wing group that brought the anti-DEI proposal to Apple called for “abolishing DEI” at the company, saying “DEI is out, merit is in.”

Apple board and shareholders: DEI is in. www.linkedin.com/feed/news/ap… [image or embed] — Nancy Levine Stearns (@nancylevinestearns.bsky.social) February 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM