DEI officers reconsider career path as demand declines: Report

Corporate Diversity​ Officers Struggle as Demand for Their ⁣Roles Declines

Corporate​ officers focused on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion are feeling “left out ⁣in the cold” as demand ⁢for their roles plummets, ⁤according‌ to a ​ Wall⁢ Street Journal report published on Friday.

Demand for DEI Roles‌ Hits New Lows

Jason Hanold, chief executive of Hanold ‍Associates Executive ​Search, told ⁢the Journal that searches for‌ chief​ diversity officers are down⁢ 75 percent⁤ in ‌the past year, reaching⁣ the lowest point in his 30-year recruiting ⁢career. Diversity‍ officers faced a 40 ⁢percent higher turnover than human resources positions during a⁣ tech world firing spree ⁤last fall.

DEI officials have faced increased scrutiny following‍ the Supreme Court’s⁤ ruling against the use ‍of⁤ race in‌ college admissions. This ⁣ruling is⁢ expected to have ripple ⁤effects beyond college admissions, including in the corporate world. A letter from more ‌than⁢ a⁢ dozen Republican attorneys general sent ⁣earlier⁢ this month warned companies against using racial preferences or ⁢other diversity ⁤initiatives that could face legal challenges. Democratic attorneys⁤ general subsequently⁣ sent a letter⁤ pushing back on these ‌claims, ⁣stating that the affirmative action ruling will not ⁢impact corporate diversity programs.

The shift in companies’ prioritization of diversity initiatives ⁤has left ⁢diversity officers questioning their ⁢career path, as reported by the Journal.

Diversity⁣ officers​ quoted in​ the Journal‘s report expressed their frustration ⁣with their⁢ colleagues’ reluctance to implement DEI initiatives‌ in‍ the workplace.

“Even if you report to​ the CEO, it’s still a battle and it’s a smaller budget,” said⁢ Melinda Starbird, who was laid off from ⁣online ‌marketplace OfferUp during a fall shakeup.

Published under: DEI