Diversity and Inclusion: A Departure from the Norm at Microsoft
In a surprising piece of news from the realms of technology, Microsoft has decided to discontinue its long-standing tradition of publishing a diversity and inclusion report. A critical cog in the company’s transparency objectives, the tech giant has been chronicling its employee demographics regarding gender, race, and ethnicity for over ten years. Particularly, Microsoft had been publicly releasing a full-blown diversity and inclusion report annually since 2019, a move seen as a significant stride towards achieving robust corporate transparency and reducing inequalities at the workplace.
To supplement this, Microsoft had also made it mandatory for the employees to be assessed on their contribution to diversity in their performance reviews. Therefore, it comes as no less than a shock to many observers that the company has now chosen to eliminate diversity and inclusion from its list of core priorities assessed in employee performance reviews.
Behind the Decision
Microsoft’s abrupt decision comes in the wake of an executive order posited by previous US President, Donald Trump. Aimed at eliminating workforce diversification and inclusion initiatives, this directive might have possibly influenced Microsoft’s decision to draw back on its diversity reporting tradition.
The tech world has been abuzz owing to this sudden move by Microsoft, which marks a stark departure from its previously declared commitments towards corporate diversity and its operative transparency. Critical eyebrows are raised regarding the implications of this decision, particularly around what it may mean for minority representation within the company and the future objectives of Microsoft’s workplace culture.
While diversity and inclusion might not be the subject of public reports or a criterion in performance reviews anymore, it remains to be seen how Microsoft will navigate this sensitive subject internally. Will the company find another way to ensure its workforce remains reflective of world demographics, or will it succumb to a more homogenous composition? Only time will tell!
For additional details, check out the full story on The Verge.
