Shortly after Harley-Davidson opted to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices following severe backlash, Ford and a handful of other companies followed suit. Ford informed its employees that it would be modifying its DEI policies and ending its participation in rankings compiled by the LGBTQ advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, and its Corporate Equality Index in late August, along with various best places to work lists. Ford also informed its workers that it will spend less time commenting on polarizing issues, shift some of its sponsorships, and that will refocus its employee resource groups and open them up to all employees. As one might expect, this didn’t settle well with those entities.
Rather, HRC, specifically, was quick to criticize The Blue Oval for its decisions, who released a statement claiming the automaker “abandoned its commitment to hundreds of thousands of employees by cowering to internet troll Robby Starbuck, and signaling that inclusion and other core values are no longer a priority in the workplace,” and also stated that Ford is “failing to support women leaders, employees of color, and LGBTQ+ employees, and abandoning its financial duty to recruit and keep top talent from across the full talent pool. In making their purchasing decisions, consumers should take note that Ford Motor Company has abandoned its commitment to our communities.”
Since then, HRC hasn’t given up on its effort to convince Ford to reinstate its DEI policies, and in fact, just delivered 35,000 signed letters to Ford headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan from concerned parties.
View this post on Instagram
“Today, Ford customers, HRC, and concerned Michiganders took to the streets outside of Ford World Headquarters to drop off 35,000 signed letters urging Ford to stay committed to diversity and inclusion policies,” the organization wrote on Instagram. “Recently, Ford announced they were rolling back their inclusion practices for employees and consumers and ‘withdrawing’ from the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. This decision could cost them $2.4 billion in 2025. Remember: Keeping workplaces inclusive is not controversial – it protects LGBTQ+ employees, people of color, people with disabilities, and women. It’s not too late to do the right thing, Ford!”
