Trump's presidency sparks fears for future of diversity culture in UK firms
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There are rising concerns for the state of diversity and inclusion in UK firms after Donald Trump's inauguration as US president,. Since taking office on Monday, Trump has been scrapping various policies from Joe Biden's era, such as rolling back transgender protections and halting federal DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.
His win also seems to have nudged corporate America towards more conservative views — with companies downscaling DEI divisions, moderating so-called "woke" terminology, and stepping back from environmental commitments. While UK businesses are legally bound to adhere to the country’s equality laws and Labour Government looks to beef up DEI measures, including mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting, it's uncertain how American companies like Meta, Amazon, and McDonald's, reducing their DEI efforts, will impact their UK branches.
Industry bodies and experts within Britain warn that America's shift could trigger similar moves here. A recent study by recruitment company Spencer Stuart pointed out a slowdown in diversifying higher management in the UK, noticing a sharp dip in the appointment of ethnic minorities to boards and the continual challenges women face accessing senior positions.
Michelle Ovens, founder of Small Business Britain, expressed her concerns: "Any shift to dial back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at a US level could have a significant negative cultural impact on businesses large and small across the world – undoubtedly having a knock-on impact in the UK.".
