On Tuesday, Apple shareholders rejected a proposal aimed at pressuring the company to abandon its diversity programs, which have become a target of U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to dismantle corporate diversity initiatives.
The proposal, introduced by the National Center for Public Policy Research — a conservative think tank — called on Apple to follow the lead of other major companies distancing themselves from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, which have been criticized by some political figures.
After a brief discussion of the proposal, Apple revealed that shareholders had voted against it, although the exact vote count was not made public. Preliminary results will be included in a regulatory filing later in the day.
This vote comes just one month after the same group made a similar proposal at Costco’s annual meeting, where it was overwhelmingly rejected. A comparable outcome was expected at Apple’s meeting, despite vocal opposition from critics.
As with Costco, Apple has firmly supported its diversity initiatives, arguing that they are essential to the company’s success.
The National Center for Public Policy Research’s proposal criticized Apple’s diversity programs as inconsistent with recent court decisions and warned that they could expose the company to lawsuits alleging discrimination. The group claimed that up to 50,000 Apple employees might file legal actions, though it did not specify how it arrived at that estimate.
“It’s clear that DEI presents legal, reputational, and financial risks to companies, which ultimately harms shareholders and breaches fiduciary duties,” the proposal stated.
Apple Defends Diversity Efforts
The risk of legal challenges was highlighted last week when Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a federal lawsuit against Target, accusing the company of damaging its sales and alienating consumers after scaling back its DEI initiatives.
In response to the anti-DEI proposal, Apple emphasized that its diversity program is a vital part of the company’s culture, contributing to its market valuation of $3.7 trillion — the highest of any company worldwide.
“We believe how we conduct ourselves is just as important to Apple’s success as creating the best products in the world,” Apple said in its statement opposing the proposal. “We are committed to operating ethically, honestly, and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.”
In its 2022 diversity and inclusion report, Apple revealed that nearly 75% of its global workforce is made up of white and Asian employees, with men accounting for about two-thirds of the staff.
Like other tech giants, Apple has faced criticism for a lack of diversity in its workforce, especially in high-paying technical roles. Despite efforts to address these disparities, the tech industry has made limited progress in achieving greater diversity.
