Years after promoting more inclusive workplace policies, Google, owned by Alphabet, is abandoning its goal to increase hiring from underrepresented groups, according to reports. The tech company has also announced plans to reassess its diversity-based hiring initiatives in light of recent shifts in U.S. policy regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
In an email to staff, Fiona Cicconi, Alphabet’s chief people officer, stated, “In 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on expanding our offices beyond California and New York to enhance representation. However, moving forward, we will no longer maintain these aspirational goals.”
Google has been evaluating its diversity programs over the past few years and, as a federal contractor, is considering adjustments in response to recent executive orders. The company noted, “We’ve updated our 10-K language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor, our teams are also assessing necessary changes following recent court rulings and executive orders on this matter.”
Shortly after taking office, former President Donald Trump signed an order prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government and mandated a review of federal grants to ensure they do not support similar initiatives.
In the wake of the protests against police violence in 2020, Google had been one of the most outspoken companies advocating for inclusive policies. In 2020, CEO Sundar Pichai announced a goal to increase the representation of leaders from underrepresented groups by 30% by 2025. The company also began evaluating executive performance based on team diversity and inclusion after a high-profile incident involving the dismissal of a prominent AI research leader who criticized its diversity efforts.
