In a proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Apple said said that conservative think tank National Center for Public Policy Research intends to submit a proposal at the upcoming shareholder meeting.
The request? “Cease DEI efforts.”
As a response, Apple advised shareholders to vote against the proposal.
“Apple has a well-established compliance program and the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies,” the SEC filing said.
A year of boycotts and legal action
Other companies have seemingly retreated from diversity programs in response to potential boycotts, driven by conservative activists like Robby Starbuck.
Some groups, such as conservative advocacy firm America First Legal, have sought the legal route to shift company priorities. The firm made headlines recently by needling Southwest Airlines for accepting federal funds while allegedly prioritizing certain groups. The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs addressed the complaint, indicating no evidence of wrongdoing.
America First Legal also filed a lawsuit against Target regarding a Pride campaign the company held several years ago, among other Target nods to diversity.
In a challenging year, how employers maintain DEI
Along with noting that it is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training, or promoting, Apple “seeks to operate in compliance with applicable non-discrimination laws” in both the U.S. and other jurisdictions where it employs workers.
Per the proxy statement, the conservative think tank’s proposal “inappropriately seeks to micromanage the Company’s programs and policies by suggesting a specific means of legal compliance.”
The approach of Apple’s leadership is similar to Costco’s recent rejections of DEI-related shareholder proposals.
On the other side of the spectrum, a Lululemon shareholder went as far as to seek retribution for dropped stock prices due to blowback from DEI programming perceived as performative.
Apple’s 2025 annual shareholder meeting will take place virtually on Feb. 25 at 8:00 a.m. PT.