What is a 'DEI hire? Diversity initiatives take election spotlight
Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have been under a microscope and vilified.
As the presidential election draws near, conservatives are asking and discussing questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in higher education and companies and their place in America, while Republicans took aim at DEI initiatives during the Republican National Convention and on the campaign trail.
The recent comments have brought back the question of what DEI means. Here's a look at where DEI programs and initiatives are and the program's roots.
What does DEI mean? When did it start?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion refer to organizational frameworks promoting "the fair treatment and full participation of all people," particularly groups "historically underrepresented or subject to discrimination."
In summary, DEI programs create a place where everyone is welcome, supported, and has the resources to succeed regardless of identity, race, or orientation.
In 2020 and 2021, diversity policies and programs rushed into existence amid the nation’s racial reckoning. But these aren't new or radical ideas.
Affirmative action and equal employment laws were enacted in the middle of the 1960s, following the introduction of equal employment laws and affirmative action in workplaces, according to the Department of Labor. These laws also pushed companies to develop diversity training programs to help employees adapt to increasingly integrated office environments.
What is a 'DEI hire'
A DEI hire refers to a person who was hired through a process that uses DEI principles. This process ensures that all candidates, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to compete for a job.
DEI aims to create a diverse workforce by actively seeking to include people from different demographics and ensuring that hiring decisions are fair and free from bias. The goal is to foster an inclusive work environment where all employees can thrive.
The phrase DEI hire has also become an insult, with some suggesting that someone was hired solely based on their demographic characteristics rather than their qualifications and experience.
DEI vs affimitave action. What's the difference?
Many people conflate DEI initiatives with affirmative action. But there is a difference: DEI initiatives aim to create an environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal access to opportunities, while affirmative action also focuses on remedying historical injustices through preferential treatment mandated by law.
Affirmative action was prohibited in California in 1996 when voters passed Proposition 209, 55% to 45%. That was affirmed in 2020 when Proposition 209, which would have repealed 209, was defeated by a bigger margin, 57% to 43%.
In early 2024, a proposed California constitutional amendment to permit some aspects of affirmative action was pulled from the November ballot, but the bill's backer, Assemblymember Corey Jackson (Moreno Valley-D), said he was pledged to bring the proposal back for a future state election.
In January, a federal judge threw out a lawsuit challenging the University of California system’s requirement that applicants for faculty positions file diversity statements.
Affirmative action and equal opportunities
Affirmative action and equal opportunity laws are GOP creations. Efforts for diversity and inclusion advanced as federal policy under Republican President Richard Nixon. These initiatives paved the way for diversity programs that were used for years and helped pave the way for some of the DEI programs seen now.
When the United States Supreme Court struck down in 2023, race-based affirmative action, conservatives called it a "win," and former President Donald Trump said the ruling marked "a great day for America," according to Reuters. However, the ruling did nothing about the legacy and socio-economic affirmative action policies set in place for some schools.
Do DEI initiatives work?
The vast majority — 96% — of corporate social impact professionals in 125 major companies say DEI commitments have either stayed the same (83%) or increased (13%), according to a new survey that the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals and YourCause from Blackbaud shared exclusively with Paste BN.
Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals president and CEO Carolyn Berkowitz said the survey “sends a clear signal” that the political environment has not weakened support for DEI.
Paste BN contributed to this report.