Diversity Think Tank: Weathering the Storm | Computer Weekly

"As economic pressures mount and uncertainty grips the tech sector, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have quietly disappeared from boardroom priorities. But history warns us what happens when we abandon progress during turbulent times. The signs are unmistakable. The last year in the inclusion space has looked significantly different, with public withdrawals and quiet quitting seeing less focus on workplace inclusion. Across the UK's tech landscape, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that once commanded CEO attention and dedicated budgets are being relegated to the "nice-to-have" category as companies tighten their belts."

"Amid intense public debate on both sides of the Atlantic about DEI and the role of meritocracy, many advocates argue that merit-based approaches alone ensure success. However, this perspective often overlooks the fundamental reality that individuals begin from vastly different starting points. As the political climate shifts, DEI practitioners find themselves working to reframe and rebrand their efforts to remain viable and acceptable in these changing times."

DEI initiatives across the UK tech sector have been deprioritised as companies tighten budgets and rebrand inclusion work to fit constrained priorities. Public withdrawals and reduced attention to workplace inclusion indicate shifting executive focus away from dedicated DEI investment. Claims that meritocracy alone ensures success ignore unequal starting points and drive practitioners to reframe efforts for acceptability. The sector faces heightened instability described by VUCA and BANI frameworks, driven by restructuring, rapid AI adoption, changing work models, inflation and rising interest rates, and growing societal expectations. Reduced DEI investment risks reversing gains in workplace inclusion.

Read at ComputerWeekly.com