Americans are fine with corporate DEI
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A majority of Americans across nearly all demographic groups said DEI initiatives have made no impact on their personal careers, according to a newly released Harris Poll/Axios Vibes survey.
Why it matters: Republican lawmakers and activists have vilified DEI, a term for diversity, equity and inclusion policies used by employers. Companies have responded by rolling back programs.
- Yet Americans — and businesses — have a generally positive to at least indifferent view on the subject.
- On balance, most demographic groups were more likely to say DEI benefited their career than hindered it.
Zoom out: The current enmity for DEI was on display this week in the congressional hearings for President-elect Trump's Cabinet nominees.
- At Pete Hegseth's hearing, the Defense secretary nominee railed against DEI, as did some lawmakers.
- DEI is "race essentialism," Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said. "I think the American people have spoken loudly and clearly about this."
- Trump's opposition to anything DEI-related is well known.
By the numbers: While 41% of those surveyed said they support efforts to roll back diversity initiatives, the majority — nearly six in 10 — either oppose those efforts or are unsure about them.
- 57% said DEI initiatives have had no impact on their career, while 16% explicitly said they have been hindered.
- 39% of Democrats said they have benefited from DEI, compared to 26% of Republicans.
- At least half of all demographic groups — including people of different races, ethnicities and sexual orientations — said DEI had no impact on their personal careers.
- 51% of respondents said DEI is primarily a symbolic gesture, while the rest said it is essential for equality.
- "With all the backlash to DEI, you'd expect a public mandate to do so. But Americans are telling us they see the benefits of diversity, even if their support is more mild than passionate," John Gerzema, CEO of the Harris Poll, told Axios.
The big picture: There is broad support for the idea of diversity inside companies.
- 61% of those surveyed said diverse employees have a positive impact on organizations, and 75% agreed that more needs to be done to guarantee everyone is advancing.
Between the lines: Even as they feverishly cut programs, business leaders appear to have good feelings about DEI, according to a separate survey out this week.
- Nearly three-quarters of 3,200 global CEOs and business leaders said initiatives tied to social issues — such as diversity and inclusion — have had a positive impact on their company's economic performance, per the AlixPartners Disruption Index.
- 94% of executives whose companies lead their industries in growth and profitability view diversity and inclusion as a competitive advantage.
The bottom line: There is a big disconnect between political rhetoric and reality.
