Dive Brief:
- Google is stepping back from aspirational hiring goals as of 2025, a spokesperson confirmed on Feb. 6.
- Over the last year, Google leadership has been reviewing its diversity, equity and inclusion programs to create a “workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities,” the spokesperson said.
- The spokesperson also said the company's role as a federal contractor factored into its decision to change its DEI approach.
Dive Insight:
As major companies continue to grapple with a quickly shifting environment for diversity initiatives, each company’s announcement can serve as a case study in both employer branding and navigating a new sociocultural landscape around compliance — namely, President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
Removing aspirational language, as well, is on par with what employment law attorneys have been recommending to their clients, as seen in the case study of Meta.
Law firm Fisher Philips also advised against hiring quotas for both compliance and cultural reasons.
“While DEI programs can be mistaken as developing quotas, they should not be seen as such if executed properly. Part of proper execution includes ensuring that program objectives are carefully messaged in light of recent case law developments,” the firm said.
Still, as one cultural PR expert recently told HR Dive, it’s important for the C-suite to think about its values and commitments — beyond this current moment.
Google will be keeping its employee resource groups, the company confirmed, and will continue to work with universities and colleges in building its talent pipeline, the spokesperson said.
