Google Scraps Diversity Hiring Goals, Reviewing DEI Strategies

Google's parent company, Alphabet, has announced the cessation of its diversity-focused hiring initiatives, aligning with recent federal guidelines and shifting away from its previous commitment to improve representation among underrepresented groups. Chief People Officer Fiona Cicconi communicated to staff that the company will no longer set aspirational hiring goals, a decision echoed by other tech firms like Meta and Amazon amid growing pushback against DEI programs from conservative groups. This change follows a broader reevaluation of workplace policies in response to executive orders from former President Donald Trump, which targeted DEI initiatives. Alphabet's latest SEC filing also reflects this shift, omitting a previous commitment to diversity and inclusion in its annual report. Despite prior commitments made in 2020 to increase leadership roles for underrepresented groups, Google has struggled to meet its goals, achieving only 60% of its targets by 2024. The decision marks a significant departure from Google's past advocacy for diversity, particularly post-2020 protests against systemic racism.