Find the new The Conversation article by Jérôme Coullaré, PhD student at the Sorbonne Business School !
The durability of "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" (DEI) schemes in every company depends on their ability to transcend two pitfalls: diversity-bashing, reinforced by the election of Donald Trump, and diversity-washing characterized by organizational schemes more concerned with appearance than substantial transformation. It is in this narrow space, between cynical instrumentalization and ideological rejection, that the future of diversity in business is being played out.
German software giant SAP has announced it is scrapping some of its diversity and inclusion targets, in order to comply with the Trump administration. In France, Labor Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet considers these to be "non-negotiable values". These diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies in large companies are going through a pivotal period.
While in the United States the Trump administration is putting an end to DEI initiatives in federal agencies and large private American companies, the situation in France has become more complex.
Despite reassuring statements by major companies in the face of requests from the US embassy to certify the absence of DCI programs, worrying signals are being confirmed.