The Wall Street Journal writes that corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion officers are losing clout and, in some cases being let go. WSJ calls what's happening "the rise and fall" of DEI.
In interviews, current and former chief diversity officers said company executives at times didn’t want to change hiring or promotion processes, despite initially telling CDOs they were hired to improve the talent pipeline. The quick about-face shows company enthusiasm for diversity initiatives hasn’t always proved durable, leaving some diversity officers now questioning their career path.
Most DEI officers were hired to demonstrate corporate commitment to a diverse workforce, in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Once hired, they often had little influence and came to understand they were "window dressing" to keep the firm out of trouble with BLM and other outside organizations.
Corporate officials in "line" departments tend to consider such "staff" or support functions as de facto second class corporate citizens, although the view is rarely stated bluntly. However, employees in-house know it to be true.
I wonder when, if ever, universities will trim their bloated DEI budgets?
