Amazon Drops Diversity, Inclusion From Annual Report

Amazon’s latest annual report no longer includes references to diversity and inclusion, marking a significant change in its public disclosures. The decision has sparked concerns among stakeholders about the company’s commitment to these values, which have been a focal point in recent years.

After releasing its fourth-quarter earnings, the business released its 2024 report on Friday.

“Inclusion and diversity” was mentioned in the previous annual report in a section called “Human Capital,” but it is not mentioned in the most recent file.

“As we work to be Earth’s best employer, we prioritise investment and innovation, inclusion and diversity, safety, and engagement to hire and develop the best talent,” the previous report stated.

The corporation uses “numerous and evolving initiatives to implement this objective,” according to the section that reads, “We strive to be Earth’s best employer.”

Following the recent suspension of several of its diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Amazon has made the move.

In a December message to staff, Candi Castleberry, vice president of inclusive experiences and technology at Amazon, stated that the business was “winding down outdated programs and materials” as part of a larger evaluation of hundreds of initiatives.

According to Castleberry, the business still considers its DEI initiatives to be “important work.”

She stated that Amazon will continue to fund specific projects, but she gave no further details.

Additionally, Amazon trimmed their messaging regarding DEI issues by editing a public-facing webpage that outlines its policy positions.

There used to be distinct sections devoted to “LGBTQ+ rights,” “equity for Black people,” and “diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Any reference to the phrase “transgender” was eliminated, and those portions were combined into a single paragraph.

Since President Donald Trump took office again, businesses in Silicon Valley and elsewhere have been rapidly abandoning DEI regulations.

In its annual report, Google removed any mention of DEI targets, and last month, Meta declared it was pulling out of internal initiatives aimed at employing more diverse applicants.

Read Also: Zuckerberg Announces End to Metas DEI Programs

According to NPR, Disney, GM, GE, and Pepsi are eliminating references to DEI from their annual reports, while McDonald’s, Walmart, and Target have also discontinued or modified certain programs.

Some businesses have avoided the criticism of DEI. A proposal by shareholders to report on the risks of Costco’s DEI policy on its stock price was turned down.

A similar suggestion is also being resisted by Apple. The CEOs of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Pinterest have stated that they intend to uphold their DEI practices.

As of December 31, Amazon employed about 1.5 million people, making it the second-largest employer in the country after Walmart.

In recent years, Amazon has committed to hiring 30% more Black people as corporate workers in the United States and doubling the number of Black employees in senior leadership positions.

The corporation is pursuing a significant investment in artificial intelligence, which CEO Andy Jassy refers to as a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” which coincides with the changes in its approach to DEI.

Amazon stated during its results call on Thursday that it intends to increase its capital expenditures to $100 billion by 2025, with an emphasis on artificial intelligence.

Among the megacap tech companies, that is the most capital expenditure.

CNBC