Four years after initiating a campaign aimed at enhancing diversity within its workforce, McDonald’s has decided to discontinue certain diversity initiatives. This shift is influenced by a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, which prohibits affirmative action in college admissions.
As one of several major corporations responding to the conservative backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts following the 2023 Supreme Court decision, McDonald’s joins the ranks of companies like Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson that have scaled back their diversity programs over the past year.
On Monday, McDonald’s announced its plans to eliminate specific targets related to increasing diversity in senior leadership positions. Additionally, the company will halt a program designed to encourage its suppliers to engage in diversity training and boost minority representation within their leadership teams.
The fast-food giant also indicated it would pause its participation in “external surveys.” Though McDonald’s did not provide further details, it mirrors the actions of other firms, such as Lowe’s and Ford Motor Co., which have also suspended involvement in an annual survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign that assesses workplace inclusivity for LGBTQ+ employees.
The headquarters located in Chicago launched several diversity initiatives in 2021 following various sexual harassment lawsuits filed by employees, alongside a discrimination lawsuit from a collective of Black former franchise owners.
Chris Kempczinski, McDonald’s Chairman and CEO, previously stated that the brand, which prides itself on inclusion as a fundamental value, demands genuine, measurable progress in fostering empathy and respect while recognizing diverse perspectives to enhance decision-making.
However, McDonald’s indicated that recent legal changes following the Supreme Court ruling and corporate actions taken by other companies have prompted a reevaluation of its own policies.
Political elements may also contribute to the company’s revised stance. President-elect Donald Trump has been a notable adversary of diversity programs, appointing Stephen Miller, a critic of corporate DEI initiatives, as part of his advisory team. Furthermore, Vice President-elect JD Vance previously introduced legislation aimed at abolishing such programs within the federal government.
Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck remarked on social media about his discussions with McDonald’s regarding its diversity policies and hinted at potential consumer boycotts of brands that do not retract their DEI efforts.
McDonald’s clarified that it had been deliberating over policy updates for several months, planning to make the announcement coincide with the beginning of the year. In a communique to employees and franchisees, the senior management team reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment, emphasizing that a diverse workforce remains a competitive strength.
The company reported that 30% of its U.S. leadership comprises underrepresented groups, up from 29% in 2021, albeit short of its previous commitment to achieve 35% by the end of this year. Additionally, McDonald’s announced it has successfully met targets for gender pay equity across all levels and has, ahead of schedule, achieved its aim of designating 25% of its total supplier expenditures towards diverse-owned enterprises.
While McDonald’s will continue advocating for employee diversity and inclusive supplier and franchisee practices, its diversity team will now be rebranded as the Global Inclusion Team. The company plans to maintain transparency by continuing to share its demographic data.
The McDonald’s Hispanic Owner-Operators Association chose not to comment on the recent policy adjustments, and inquiries directed to the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association similarly went unanswered.
