Amazon to pause some of its DEI initiatives: Internal memo

• An internal memo has revealed that Amazon is suspending certain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• The company is currently "phasing out outdated programs and materials" as part of a comprehensive review of numerous initiatives.
• In response to increasing legal and public scrutiny, Amazon has recently modified its DEI programs.

Some major corporations, including those facing increasing public and legal scrutiny, are halting their diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Amazon's VP of inclusive experiences and technology, Candi Castleberry, stated in an internal note last month that the company was currently "phasing out outdated programs and materials" as part of a comprehensive review of hundreds of initiatives.

Instead of allowing individual groups to develop programs, we are concentrating on programs that have demonstrated success, and we are also working towards cultivating a more inclusive culture, as stated by Castleberry in a Dec. 16 memo, which was initially reported by Bloomberg.

Meta has abandoned its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives by ending its practice of prioritizing qualified candidates from underrepresented groups for open roles and its equity and inclusion training programs. This decision has sparked criticism from Meta employees, including one staffer who stated, "If you don't uphold your principles when things become challenging, they are not values, but rather hobbies."

In response to rising conservative backlash and the Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action in 2023, many corporations have made changes to their DEI initiatives.

Read the full memo from Amazon's Castleberry:

Team,

Before the year concludes, I would like to provide an update on our efforts related to representation and inclusion.

We are a multinational corporation with operations in various countries and sectors, catering to a diverse customer base of hundreds of millions. To provide optimal service, we require a workforce and partnerships that mirror our customer base and communities. Our goal is to maintain an inclusive culture that values and respects all employees.

We have recently adopted a new strategy, which involves evaluating hundreds of programs across the company using scientific methods to determine their effectiveness, impact, and return on investment. We then identify the programs that we believe should continue, each of which addresses a specific disparity and is designed to be eliminated when that disparity is resolved. In addition, we have been working to unify employee groups under a single umbrella and create programs that are accessible to all. Instead of having individual groups develop programs, we are now focusing on programs with proven outcomes and aim to foster a more inclusive culture. For more information, please visit our Together at Amazon page on A to Z.

Our approach to technology is shifting from separate programs to integrating our work into existing processes, resulting in a "built in" and "born inclusive" culture. We plan to complete the transition by the end of 2024, and we understand that there may be individuals or teams who continue to act in ways that don't align with our company-wide approach. However, we will persist in our efforts.

We'll continue to provide updates and thank you for your efforts in driving progress. We consider this work crucial, so we will continue to invest in programs that support our audiences, employees, and communities worldwide.

#InThisTogether,

Candi