What is DEI? Walmart’s latest to roll back policies

Walmart is withdrawing not only on prices.

The national store has announced that it has no plans to renew its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the coming year and will no longer participate in annual benchmark index from the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign. Walmart created its DEI initiative in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, when many companies pledged to make their employees and management better reflect the diverse communities they serve.

The retail giant is the newest domestic company withdraw from DEI initiative programs last year, when conservative groups and agendas dominated the United States.

Here’s what’s going on with the retail giant and how a conservative activist from Tennessee says he’s involved.

Why is Walmart recalling DEI products? Does this have anything to do with Robby Starbuck?

Conservative activist and Tennessean Robby Starbuck claims Walmart’s policy change comes after it warned the company last week that it was working on a report on “wokeness.” According to Starbuck, the company then held “productive conversations” to make the changes.

“Removing sleeplessness from Walmart both further impacts suppliers and sets the tone for corporate America,” Starbuck told USA TODAY. “Changing normal operating policies in a nearly $1 trillion company is a monumental feat that many have tried to accomplish, but no one has yet managed to accomplish.”

Walmart, on the other hand, said Starbuck’s warning was not a catalyst for any changes, but the company has been pushing for changes to DEI for several years. The company said it has already changed its terminology from DEI to affiliation and made changes to its supplier diversity program.

“We’ve been on a journey and we know we’re not perfect, but every decision is driven by our desire to foster a sense of belonging, open doors to opportunity for all of our associates, customers and suppliers, and be the Walmart for all,” the company said in an emailed statement.

What does DEI mean?

Diversity, equality and inclusion refers to an organizational framework that aims to promote “the fair treatment and full participation of all people”, especially groups “that have been historically underrepresented or subject to discrimination”.

In short, DEI programs create a place where everyone is welcome, supported, and has the resources they need to succeed, regardless of identity, race, or orientation.

When did companies, organizations and schools start DEI initiatives?

In 2020 and 2021, diversity policies and programs arose amid the nation’s racial reckoning. But these are not new or radical ideas.

According to the Department of Labor, affirmative action and equal employment laws were enacted in the mid-1960s after the introduction of equal employment and affirmative action laws in the workplace. These regulations also forced companies to develop diversity training programs to help employees adapt to working in increasingly integrated office environments.

Who is Robby Starbuck?

The 36-year-old conservative has taken credit for changes in DEI programs at many companies such as Harley DavidsonFord and Lowe’s after putting pressure on them with reports.

But before he became active in the conservative movement and influencing social media, he worked as a director and producer of music videos and commercials. He also lived in California until 2019, when he moved to Tennessee. Starbucks had it too unsuccessful run for Congress in 2022.

Starbuck has used social media to inform consumers that companies are “awakening”.

“My goal in these reports is never destruction. “My goal is to inform consumers about the values that major companies embrace so they can make choices about what they want to support,” Starbuck wrote in his post about Harley-Davison on X.

What does the future hold for DEI in America?

While some large companies are buckling under pressure to change their DEI initiatives, others are going nowhere, but keeping these programs alive won’t be easy given the political climate.

A survey by the business research group Conference Board shows that more than 60% of surveyed corporate executives perceive today’s political climate for corporate DEI as very or extremely challenging, and most expect continued or growing opposition. Feedback is expected, but companies have no plans to scale back initiatives that started taking shape four years ago.

Less than 10% of organizations planned to reduce their DEI commitments over the next three years, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data.

USA TODAY and Jordan Green contributed to this report.