Much of the DEI content we see is often riddled with negativity about how companies are not doing enough, or an exploration of whether DEI is “dead”. Chief, the largest network of women executives, produced a survey of C-Suite executives on their DEI position and initiatives. This report surveys 600 C-suite leaders in companies with more than 500 employees. The findings shed some much-needed positive light on executives’ outlook on DEI:
- 80% of companies are still investing in DEI initiatives.
- Only 20% of companies plan to cut back or eliminate DEI initiatives in 2024.
- Despite some paring back, 35% plan to continue with their current initiatives at the same level, and 44% plan to ramp up existing initiatives or develop new ones.
Despite the negative news that we often face regarding DEI, many C-suite leaders are still investing in initiatives and plan to stay the course. This is important because anti-DEI sentiment can discourage those who understand this work’s importance and remain committed to making progress. Seeing that top-level leaders remain committed signals that DEI is not “dead” and that there are companies from which we can draw encouragement and support as we lead this work. Companies considering paring back their investment in DEI due to fatigue or critics may want to give that a rethink. Instead, check out our resources on how to overcome DEI fatigue and how to respond to DEI critics.
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