Demand rejected

Apple shareholders stand by diversity initiatives

President Donald Trump and his administration are campaigning against the programs, which are known in the US under the acronym DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).(Bild: I-Viewfinder – stock.adobe.com)

Diversity programs are currently being scaled back across the board in US companies - but Apple's shareholders continue to stand by them. At the iPhone company's Annual General Meeting, the demand to abandon such activities was rejected. 

At the same time, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that a changed legal framework could require adjustments to the diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives. President Donald Trump and his administration are waging a campaign against the programs, which are known in the USA under the acronym DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). One argument is that favoring some population groups would put others at a disadvantage. Trump, his ministers and even tech billionaire Elon Musk claim that such initiatives are harming skills. So far, there has been no evidence of this.

US companies abandon DEI activities
Following legal pressure in some cases, many US companies have decided to scrap or scale back their diversity programs. These include tech heavyweights such as Google and the Facebook group Meta. Others - such as the airline Delta Air Lines or the retailer Costco - are sticking to their programs.

Apple had called on shareholders to vote against the proposal to abolish the DEI programs. The move came from a conservative think tank, which argued that the initiatives posed legal risks. Apple countered that the proposal was an impermissible interference in the company's day-to-day business. The company also had well-established procedures in place to minimize legal risks.

Millions also confirmed for Cook
Cook emphasized that Apple has never had quotas and referred to the "unique culture" that has made the company what it is. At the same time, changes may have to be made if the legal landscape changes.

The shareholders also approved the income of the top management at the Annual General Meeting. Cook's remuneration was increased by 18 percent to 74.6 million dollars last year. The majority of this was in the form of shares; Cook's basic salary is three million dollars.