Apple shareholders have rejected a proposal submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research, a group identifying as a conservative think tank, aiming to persuade Apple to abandon its diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The organization intended for Apple to follow in the footsteps of other prominent companies that are distancing themselves from DEI programs that are under scrutiny by the current U.S. administration.

Apple revealed that 97% of the votes cast by shareholders were against the proposal, solidifying the company’s stance on its commitments to DEI. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s encouragement to investigate whether these programs might be discriminatory, Apple CEO Tim Cook continues to maintain a positive relationship with Trump, an alliance that has allowed the company to avoid tariffs on its Chinese-made products.

The proposal closely followed a similar rejection at Costco’s annual meeting last month, indicating a broader resistance within the corporate sector to scale back DEI initiatives. The National Center for Public Policy Research did not waver in its efforts, with Executive Director Stefan Padfield accusing Apple’s DEI commitments of being at odds with recent court decisions and potentially opening the company up to legal action.

Padfield’s main argument was that “forced diversity is bad for business” and suggested that Apple’s programs could be seen as discriminatory. Legal concerns were further highlighted by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s lawsuit against Target over its watered-down DEI program.

In contrast, Apple believes that a diverse workforce is essential for business success. Cook acknowledged that the company might need to adapt its DEI programs as the legal environment changes. He reassured stakeholders that Apple remains committed to fostering a culture of belonging, a strategy that has played a role in the company’s valuation exceeding any other business globally.

According to Apple’s latest diversity and inclusion report from 2022, the company’s workforce is predominantly composed of white and Asian employees, with a significant portion of the workforce being male. Despite the tech industry’s longstanding efforts to diversify its teams, it remains a sector characterized by a high representation of white and Asian men, particularly in higher-paying engineering positions.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/business/2025/02/26/apple-shareholders-reject-proposal-to-scrap-companys-diversity-programmes