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Apple’s board urges shareholders not to drop diversity

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Apple’s board of directors has recommended investors vote against a shareholder proposal to abolish the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.

 

The National Centre for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, submitted a proposal that the company consider abolishing its “Inclusion & Diversity program, policies, department and goals.”

 

The proposal cited recent Supreme Court decisions, and made the argument that DEI poses “litigation, reputational and financial risks to companies” and could make Apple more vulnerable to lawsuits.

 

Apple responded that it had a well-established compliance program and the proposal was unnecessary. It added that the shareholder proposal was an inappropriate attempt to micromanage Apple’s business strategy.

 

“Apple is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training, or promoting on any basis protected by law”, the iPhone maker said in a proxy  filing.The news was first reported by TechCrunch.

 

Several major companies including Meta and Amazon are winding down diversity programs ahead of Republican Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency as conservative opposition to such initiatives grows louder.

 

Conservative groups have denounced DEI programs and threatened to sue companies over them, emboldened by a US Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that struck down affirmative action in university admissions decisions.

 

The changes show how some of America’s biggest businesses have reacted to a larger conservative backlash against diversity initiatives, which multiplied after widespread protests following the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020.

 

SOURCE: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8864460/apples-board-urges-shareholders-not-to-drop-diversity/

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Steven Asnicar

Steven is the driving force behind 1Diversity’s global consulting business in the Australasia, Europe, Canada, USA, South America, Africa, and Asia regions. 

With an impressive 25-year career as a senior executive, director, CEO, consultant, and executive search specialist, and over the last seven years visionary and CEO of DE&I consulting and training firm Diversity Australia, Steven brings a wealth of experience to his role.

Prior to establishing his DE&I companies, Steven founded and led a thriving leadership development training and assessment firm in Asia Pacific for 18 years. His expertise lies in working closely with Boards, C-suite executives, and teams, providing guidance on leadership development, strategy, succession planning, and executive assessment. As a natural entrepreneur, Steven is known for his innovative, data-driven approach to creating impactful and practical client solutions.

Steven holds a Masters of International Business specialising in Human Capital Management from Bond University, a Graduate Certificate of Corporate Management from Deakin, and a Bachelor of Business from UQ. He is a graduate of the Global Institute of Directors, a certified RABQSA Auditor, and a thought leader in executive DE&I, with a strong following of over 26,000 on his LinkedIn profile, https://au.linkedin.com/in/steven-asnicar.

To learn more about 1Diversity’s team of expert consultants and trainers, visit https://1diversity.com/our-team.

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About 1Diversity: Championing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging on a Global Scale.

WE EMPOWER ORGANISATIONS WITH INCLUSIVE STRATEGIES: 1Diversity is a leading international diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) professional services and training firm. 

We specialise in DEIB training and consulting, covering critical areas such as unconscious bias, psychological safety, inclusive leadership, psychological safety, menopause at work, neurodiversity, and cultural sensitivity.

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