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Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN) has removed all references to diversity and inclusion in its annual report this year. This follows a trend of big companies, formerly active in diversity inclusion, relaxing said priorities. In December of last year, Amazon told employees in a memo that it would be scaling back these politically driven policies as a reflection of corporate America’s similar departure.
In Amazon’s annual report from last year, the company states, "As we strive to be Earth’s best employer, we focus on investment and innovation, inclusion and diversity, safety, and engagement to hire and develop the best talent." This is comparable to their statement this year, saying, "We strive to be Earth’s best employer." By simplifying and broadening its statement, Amazon exempts itself from aligning with either political side on the matter of DEI.
This can be rationalized through the general withdrawal from more politically-driven policies of many other major companies, chief of these being Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:META) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL). The reason for this withdrawal has been commonly attributed to the pusback of conservatives groups, these groups becoming empowered since President Donald Trump’s recent reelection.
On January 22, Trump signed an executive order ending legal DEI preferencing in federal contracting and agencies, citing the combatting of "private sector discrimination."
It is important to note that changes in public communication do not necessarily reflect changes in internal policies or practices. However, Amazon’s change in communicating its approach on DEI is yet another example of a shift within the general market away from politically aligned policy.