Apple’s board of directors has called on investors to vote against a proposal to end its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
The move comes after a conservative group, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), called on the tech giant to roll back its DEI policies, saying they expose companies to “litigation risks, reputation and financial.
Apple directors say the NCPPR proposal was unnecessary because the company had appropriate checks and balances in place.
Other major U.S. companies, including Meta and Amazon, canceled their DEI programs ahead of the return to the White House this month of Donald Trump, who has been highly critical of DEI policies.
“The proposal is unnecessary because Apple already has a well-established compliance program,” the company’s investor filing said.
Apple’s board also said the DEI withdrawal plan “inappropriately sought to micromanage the company’s programs and policies by suggesting a specific means of legal compliance.”
The NCPPR proposal is expected to be voted on by shareholders at Apple’s annual general meeting on February 25.
Conservative groups have threatened legal action against big companies over their DEI programs, saying such policies conflict with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action at universities.
Last week, Facebook owner Meta became the latest US company to roll back its DEI initiatives, joining a growing list of major companies including Amazon, Walmart and McDonald’s.
In a memo to staff regarding the decision — which affects recruiting, vendor and training efforts — Meta cited a “changing legal and policy landscape.”
He also referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action.
Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has been working to reconcile with Trump since his election in November.
The company donated $1 million (£820,000) to the president-elect’s inauguration fund, hired a Republican as its head of public affairs and announced it was getting rid of fact-checkers on news platforms. Meta social media.
Mr. Zuckerberg is not alone among senior executives in taking such steps in the face of growing pressure from conservative groups.
