Salesforce has decided to drop its diversity hiring goals, which comes after recent actions taken by former President Donald Trump to roll back similar initiatives across the federal government and private businesses. This change is part of a wider trend, with other major companies like Google and Meta also re-evaluating their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Salesforce has changed its emphasis in official communications, moving away from promoting diversity and inclusion as a “core value.” The company has removed links between executive pay and employee diversity metrics. A spokesperson for Salesforce clarified in their annual financial report that while they are not setting specific diversity targets anymore, they remain dedicated to the principle of equality.
The updated financial document highlights the company’s focus on adhering to federal laws, aiming to foster a supportive workplace atmosphere while emphasizing “equality, dignity, and respect for all.”
This decision aligns closely with Trump’s executive orders that set out to dismantle diversity programs. One order specifically aimed to restrict diversity hiring within federal agencies and among contractors, which includes Salesforce, a key vendor for the U.S. government. Another order called on companies to discontinue their DEI efforts.
Salesforce’s actions reflect a broader industry movement, as many companies are scaling back their DEI programs. Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, has been an outspoken advocate for social issues in the past. He has supported various initiatives, such as a local tax increase to combat homelessness and threatened to pull investments from states with discriminatory laws.
