Microsoft is reportedly shutting down a key internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team, the latest big company to make cuts to previous pledges to diversity.
The news of Microsoft axing a main internal DEI team comes from an email blast sent out to thousands of their global workforce, obtained by several websites.
“True systems-change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020,” the email obtained by Business Insider reads. The entire team was laid off due to “changing business needs.”
The email, which was sent by the team’s now-former leader, also goes on to accuse the company’s executive leadership of “investigated and evidenced discrimination, harassment, and toxicity.”
The rest of the email goes into a lot more detail on the apparent major shift at Microsoft to axe things not important to their business:
“Unofficially in my opinion, not specific to Microsoft alone, but Project 2025 looms and true systems change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020,” the email added. “Hence the purposeful and strategic 3-5 year shelf life of many company’s inclusion commitments post the murder of George Floyd are being reevaluated. And the way I see it, the timing was impeccable so businesses everywhere could reevaluate the path forward should their U.S. federal contracts be at risk if the work continues on its face.”
Microsoft spokesperson Jeff Jones already provided a statement saying their “diversity and inclusion commitments remain unchanged.”
“Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work,” Jones said.
The former team lead does praise the work of DEI teams at Microsoft, saying “impossible mountains were moved” during their reign, though they also accused the executives of alleged “investigated and evidenced discrimination, harassment, and toxicity” directed toward their DEI staff.
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