Ditching DEI is bad for employees and employers: HRC report

""While not eliminating civil rights protections, these actions signaled increased scrutiny of DEI-related policies and practices, particularly where they intersect with federal funding or contracting," the report says. "For many employers, these signals created confusion and unease about how to comply with existing civil rights laws, continue legally permissible DEI programming, and avoid enforcement attention at the same time. For some, compliance concerns led to a significantly dialed back approach by companies, including by influencing how inclusion efforts are designed, documented, and communicated internally, and especially externally.""

"The researchers found that 39.1 percent of U.S. workers surveyed said their employers have rolled back DEI practices. At those companies, 54.2 percent of workers said they had experienced stigma or bias on the job, compared to 24.9 percent of those at organizations that maintained DEI policies. Eighty-six percent of employees who described their workplace as hostile said they were at risk of leaving their job, compared with 43.1 percent of those in nonhostile environments. This pattern held across both LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ workers."

Pressure from the federal government and right-wing activists in 2025 led many companies to end diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. 39.1 percent of U.S. workers reported their employers rolled back DEI practices. At those companies, 54.2 percent of workers experienced stigma or bias on the job, compared with 24.9 percent at organizations that maintained DEI policies. Eighty-six percent of employees who described their workplace as hostile said they were at risk of leaving, versus 43.1 percent in nonhostile environments. Workplace hostility affected both LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ workers. Inclusion improves outcomes for workers and companies.

Read at Advocate.com