Summary
Walmart is scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid conservative backlash and changing cultural pressures.
The company removed LGBTQ-themed items, stopped sharing data with advocacy groups, and phased out supplier diversity programs and its Center for Racial Equity, created in 2020.
Walmart also rebranded its diversity roles, though it will continue funding events like Pride parades under stricter guidelines.
Activists opposing DEI policies, like Robby Starbuck, have praised these changes.
Their anti-union work is legendary. Walton inspired frikkin Bezos.
That they can talk about “pulling back on DEI efforts” in the news bit and not mention that most of Wally’s workforce is women and PoC? News in a vacuum.
They haven’t “stepped back from diversity, equity and inclusion efforts after feeling the heat from conservative activists.” Walmart IS the Conservative activist in this situation.
Walmart had meat cutters at one point. Good job performed by skilled workers, protected by a strong union. But Walmart would rather remove them from all stores than pay fair wages and benefits, so that’s what they did. Walmart will straight up close stores and exit profitable markets rather than negotiate with a collective bargaining group. It’s all about control…