DEI may be under attack, but DEI work is ongoing and appreciated.

An excellent CNBC article highlights how some companies are reframing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts—moving away from the acronym but not the mission.

The article, Trump era, companies are rebranding DEI efforts, not giving up 
• Despite DEI becoming such a divisive term, companies aren’t necessarily ending their efforts. They’re rebranding them.
• Some experts say organizations will be forced to be more thoughtful about their plans and do away with “performative” aspects of DEI.

Here's my take - 
Employees are for diversity equity and inclusion because they've experienced what it does for them. Pew Research (2023) found that 86% of workers have a neutral-to-favorable opinion about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

This got me thinking about language. Some of the people in the article describe how they've changed the name of their DEI work, for example, changing equity to opportunity. Yes, opportunity is a good word, but it's not an equitable substitution. Words matter, and while "opportunity" is important, it doesn't fully capture the systemic change that "equity" demands—true inclusion requires more than just a rebrand.

I continue to use DEI—on my website, in posts, and in my courses. The anti-DEI pushback is worth paying attention to, but it is not essential, it's a gust of rage. What is essential, and will last, is that diversity equity and inclusion is for everyone. We the People will (and must) continue building diverse and inclusive workplaces with policies and practices that ensure equitable outcomes for everyone.

I’d love to hear from those of you who are working on the ground (as opposed to those large companies mentioned in the article)—how is the anti-DEI pressure affect you and your clients and colleagues? Are clients shying away from DEI training? Are you using the acronym and more importantly, continuing to get work implementing DEI training? 

Here, we will not stop talking and teaching about the importance of diversity equity and inclusion - and yes, especially equity. Onward!