McDonald's Adjusts DEI Strategy, Achieves Gender Pay Equity and Diverse Leadership

Jan 6, 2025, 11:20 PM

McDonald's Corp. is scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining a trend among major corporations in response to a shifting legal and political landscape. The company announced it will retire specific diversity goals for senior leadership, end a program encouraging suppliers to develop diversity training, and pause external surveys related to inclusion. This decision follows a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed affirmative action in college admissions, prompting McDonald's and others to reassess their DEI strategies. Despite these changes, McDonald's remains committed to fostering an inclusive workforce, noting progress in achieving gender pay equity and increasing leadership diversity, with 30% of its U.S. leaders now from underrepresented groups and 25% of supplier spending directed to diverse-owned businesses. The company's diversity team will now be referred to as the Global Inclusion Team, reflecting a broader focus on inclusion practices.