Microsoft has reportedly disbanded its internal team dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), citing “changing business needs.”
According to a Business Insider report, the layoffs, which took effect on July 1, have stirred controversy within the company.
This decision comes despite Microsoft’s earlier commitments to enhancing diversity efforts, including a 2020 pledge to double the number of Black and African-American leaders within the company by 2025. The current status of this initiative remains unclear.
The layoffs are part of Microsoft’s annual workforce adjustments, usually conducted around the start of its fiscal year. Recently, however, the company has been implementing more frequent rounds of job cuts, including a major reduction of 10,000 employees announced in early 2023.
A leader of the disbanded team reportedly expressed strong criticism of the decision in an email sent to thousands of Microsoft employees, suggesting that the team is no longer seen as essential for the company.
“True systems-change work associated with DEI programs everywhere is no longer considered as critical or smart as it was in 2020,” the team leader wrote, according to Business Insider.
Microsoft spokesperson Jeff Jones affirmed that the company’s diversity and inclusion commitments remain unchanged. “Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering, and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritising accountability, and continuing to focus on this work,” Jones said in a statement to Business Insider.
This reduction in DEI staff reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, with companies like Zoom, Google, and Meta also reportedly scaling back their diversity programs in recent months.
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