Ford Shifts DEI Strategies, Opting Out of Annual Survey Conducted by LGBTQ Advocacy Group

Ford Motor Company announced changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, opting out of an annual survey conducted by an LGBTQ advocacy group and eliminating quotas for minority dealerships and suppliers.

Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasized the company’s commitment to accommodating diverse perspectives among employees and customers, noting in an internal email shared by Robby Starbuck that the external and legal landscape surrounding social and political issues is continuously evolving. When asked for further comment, Ford referred to the internal communication and declined to add more.

Starbuck, who had been examining Ford’s DEI policies prior to the announcement, has been vocal in crediting his influence when other companies like Lowe’s adjusted their DEI initiatives. He also launched a campaign targeting Lowe’s competitor, Home Depot. In his response to Ford’s recent actions, Starbuck described the changes as a promising start but acknowledged they did not meet all his expectations.

Ford clarified that it would no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and “best places to work” surveys and would open its employee resource groups to all staff. The full extent of the changes to Ford’s DEI policies remains uncertain.

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson expressed disappointment with Ford’s decision, criticizing the company for failing to support women, employees of color, and LGBTQ+ employees. Robinson argued that Ford’s actions undermine its financial responsibility to attract and retain a diverse talent pool, suggesting that consumers should consider this in their purchasing decisions.

Lowe’s and Ford made these adjustments before Starbuck’s followers initiated boycotts against the companies. Starbuck, who has nearly 600,000 followers on X, mobilizes his audience to apply pressure on corporations, and he claimed that his campaigns have successfully pushed major companies to alter their DEI programs, including Tractor Supply, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, and Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman.

Despite public commitments from many business leaders to uphold DEI values in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020, there is a growing trend of companies reassessing their DEI investments and scaling back on measures like hiring targets. Farley serves on the board of Harley-Davidson, while John Deere CEO John May is on Ford’s board, underscoring the interconnected leadership within these corporations as they navigate DEI challenges.

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