On February 25, Apple shareholders voted to uphold the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, rejecting a proposal from the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research to end these efforts. This vote, held during Apple’s annual meeting, was seen as a key moment to evaluate shareholder support for DEI programs, which became more prominent following the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
Apple Shareholders Reject Proposal to End DEI Initiatives
The proposal to cease DEI initiatives was opposed by Apple management, which argued that its DEI programs, including support for historically Black colleges and coding education for indigenous groups, were valuable and aligned with the company’s culture. The proposal was defeated by a wide margin, with 8.84 billion votes against it and only 210.45 million in favour.
Proponents of the proposal argued that legal changes could increase discrimination lawsuits if Apple maintained its DEI policies, while Apple emphasized its proactive oversight efforts to minimize legal risks. Apple does not set specific quotas for diversity but provides transparency about its employee demographics. CEO Tim Cook reinforced the company’s commitment to a culture of collaboration, ensuring dignity and respect for all employees, even as the legal landscape around DEI evolves.
Apple Shareholders Reject DEI and AI Risk Proposals, Approve $500B Investment Plan
This vote follows similar conservative challenges against DEI programs at other major companies, like Meta and Alphabet. In addition to the DEI proposal, shareholders also voted down another proposal urging Apple to assess risks related to its AI work. Apple’s management proposals, including compensation-related measures, were all approved.
Cook also highlighted Apple’s $500 billion investment plan over the next four years, which drew praise from former President Trump, particularly after a meeting between Cook and Trump about a Taiwan Semiconductor factory in Arizona.
Summary:
On February 25, Apple shareholders rejected a proposal to end the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The vote also saw the rejection of a proposal to assess AI risks. Additionally, shareholders approved Apple’s management proposals and its $500 billion investment plan, praised by former President Trump.
