(Reuters) – Apple shareholders rejected a proposal from external investors against its diversity, equity and inclusion policies at an annual meeting on Tuesday, a major victory to the technology giant as opposition against Such efforts that gain ground in the United States
Voting was a test of shareholders’ opinions on the value of Dei programs, which many companies have added or strengthened from 2020 in the middle of the Black Lives Matter movement.
An increasing conservative reaction has pushed major American companies, notably Meta and Alphabet, to abandon Dei’s initiatives before and after Donald Trump’s return to the American presidency. Trump has criticized business diversity programs, suggesting that the United States Ministry of Justice could investigate the opportunity to violate the law.
Apple shareholders also voted against a proposal asking the company to prepare a report evaluating the risks of its work with AI, while all management proposals have been approved, according to a preliminary statement of the vote .
Earlier this month, the proxy consulting company for institutional shareholders has recommended investors to support Apple’s dei policies, saying that the company already offers enough information about them and that it Has no controversy or a sign of discrimination against employee groups.
Apple shareholders in the past have rejected the proposals that would have forced the company to further disclose racial gaps and gender wages. On Tuesday, CEO Tim Cook said that Apple had never had quotas or targets in its diversity programs.
“While the legal landscape around these problems is evolving, we may have to make changes to be observed, but our northern star of dignity and respect for everyone and our work for this purpose will never be foggy”, ” said Cook.
The proposal against Apple’s diversity policies was submitted by the National Center for Public Policy Research, which is described as a reflection group on the free market.
The same group had asked Costco Wholesale to account for the risks of maintaining its diversity and inclusion initiatives. The shareholders of retailers reserved for members voted strongly against the proposal at a meeting in January.
(Report by Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; edition by Shilpi Majumdar)
