Quick-to-read HR news & insights
From recruiting and retention to company culture and the latest in HR tech, HR Brew delivers up-to-date industry news and tips to help HR pros stay nimble in today’s fast-changing business environment.
There was no shortage of debate over DE&I in 2024. Some companies reaffirmed their commitment to initiatives, while others appeased conservative activists, and DE&I leaders faced an uncertain job market.
The health of DE&I initiatives in 2025 remains uncertain, especially as politicians turn up the rhetoric, but a new study indicates that while companies anticipate change ahead, most are committed to DE&I.
Some 43% of leaders said that anti-DE&I rhetoric impacted their diversity efforts in 2024, and 42% will make “substantive” changes to their initiatives in 2025, according to the State of Culture and Inclusion report from Paradigm, a DE&I consultancy. The organization surveyed 150 business leaders, analyzed data from 220 clients, and compared 143 organizations’ initiatives year over year.
Despite the negative discourse, 73% of companies have made a commitment to DE&I as part of their values, and 60% have a DE&I strategy, a 9% increase from 2023. Furthermore, 66% of organizations have a dedicated DE&I budget, a 12% increase, and 40% have a full-time DE&I leader, a 13% increase. Representation goals appear to be disappearing though. Just 26% of companies have gender representation goals, an 8% decrease.
While the report’s authors expect more attacks on corporate DE&I in 2025, they predict that companies will continue with their initiatives, even as the language surrounding them changes. “We expect to see more use of words like culture, belonging, engagement, and inclusion.”