Accenture’s global diversity and inclusion targets have been axed in response to President Trump’s demands.
Accenture, according to an internal memo from chief executive Julie Sweet first reported by the Financial Times will begin “sunsetting”, the diversity goals that it set in 2017 along with career development programs for “people of certain demographic groups”.
Sweet explained that Accenture changed its policy after “evaluating our internal policies, practices and the changing landscape in the United States including recent executive order which we must follow”.
The executive orders of President Donald Trump designed to eliminate DEI programs across the federal governments and discourage their continued use in the private sectors.
Sweet stated Accenture will stop providing data about DEI to external diversity surveys and will end DEI goals, which are no longer used to measure employee performance. The company would also assess external partnerships in the area “as part our talent strategy”.
According to Accenture’s latest annual report, in line with the goals set for 2017 and 2020, women now make up 48% and 30% respectively of its workforce, and are managing directors.
The company has also set race and ethnicity targets for 2020 in the US and UK.
Accenture UK website states currently: “We are dedicated to helping our people thrive. This includes advancing diversity and inclusion for people of all genders, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, intersex, and queer people (LGBTIQ+), people from diverse cultures, people with differing religious and faith traditions, and people in different age groups and social groups.
“Beyond Accenture we are deeply committed in driving societal changes, helping to address the systemic issues that impact gender inequality across the United Kingdom, such as lack of deep tech skills and training, childcare and menopause healthcare provision.
Accenture may be scrapping its DEI initiatives globally, but in the UK, it must maintain certain aspects to comply with UK employment laws, such as reporting on gender pay gaps and, in the future, ethnicity-based pay gaps.
Accenture UK reported that the gender pay gap in its UK offices was 16.7%, compared to 14.3% for the UK.
Accenture is the latest company to bow down to President Trump and eliminate DEI. Google is one of them, as are Meta and Ford. Amazon, and McDonald’s are also amongst the list.
Personnel Today has the latest HR job openings.
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
Browse Human Resources Jobs
