Another major company reportedly has rolled back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid growing pressure to do so from conservative activists.
Nissan Motor Co.'s Americas unit reviewed its diversity programs following questions from employees and "other engagements," according to outgoing unit Chairperson Jeremie Papin said in a letter to employees, Bloomberg reported.
The outlet's report coincided with online influencer Robby Starbuck saying he engaged with Nissan prior to the announcement, similar to recent negotiations with Walmart and Caterpillar Inc.
"Weeks ago I informed execs at @NissanUSA @nissan that I was doing a story on wokeness there. Instead we had productive conversations about how to fix this," Starbuck posted Wednesday on X.
Starbuck said Nissan committed to no longer participate in surveys that have a political activism angle; reviewing future funding of events to ensure that sponsorships align with brand standards and business priorities; no quotas for hiring, promotions, or diverse suppliers; and requiring training only related to the core business going forward.
"This list is a bit shorter than other companies we've focused on because Nissan was not as far gone as other companies we've changed but Nissan was important to me because they're one of the top employers in Tennessee and I wanted to get this done for my fellow Tennesseans," Starbuck wrote.
Nissan's letter follows similar moves by more than a dozen companies, including Toyota Motor Corp., Walmart Inc. and Harley-Davidson Inc.
Starbuck, who has more than 700,000 followers on X and other platforms, threatened the companies with starting consumer boycotts.
Just last year, Papin said the car company's focus on DEI was something he was "particularly proud of."
"Nissan Americas' DEI efforts bolster our heritage of always daring to do what others do not," Papin said in Nissan's 2023 diversity report.
Also in the report, Nissan chief DEI officer Chandra Vasser said, "While other companies may shy away from DEI, it is front and center at Nissan, starting on an employee's very first day."
Nissan had been participating in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, a survey that measures support for LGBTQ workers, Bloomberg reported.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.