Is Disney taking a step back from its DEI fixation? I wouldn’t bet on it but they are doing something in an attempt to generate some headlines in that direction. Axios was the first to report on some of the changes.
Disney is changing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to focus more closely on business outcomes, according to a note sent to employees Tuesday and obtained by Axios…
In a note to employees sent Tuesday morning, chief human resources officer Sonia Coleman outlined ways Disney’s DEI efforts will change.
Other Performance Factors (OPFs): Beginning this fiscal year, Disney will replace the “Diversity & Inclusion” performance factor that it used to evaluate executive compensation with a new “Talent Strategy.” The new “Talent Strategy” factor includes concepts from its old “Diversity & Inclusion” factor, but is more focused on how values drive business success…
Employee Groups: The company has rebranded its “Business” Employee Resource Groups (BERGs) to “Belonging” Employee Resource Groups. The transformation, which began last year, is meant to highlight the focus on BERGs in strengthening the employee community and workplace experience.
On that last bullet point, it’s hard to know what the folks at Disney are thinking but I wonder if the shift from “Business” Employee Resource Groups to “Belonging” Employee Resource Groups (which started last year) is an effort to avoid future lawsuits.
Last year James O’Keefe did a sting featuring a Disney Senior VP who told his undercover date that Disney would sometimes engage in questionable hiring practices based on race and sex, i.e. no white men. If someone decides to sue because there are “business” resource groups that use company resources for every group except white men that might look bad. Better to make it clear this is just about the tone, not about who gets hired or promoted.
I’ve heard from friends that some private companies are also putting a pause on race or sex based affinity groups for fear of losing government contracts. In Disney’s case I think the goal is to take less flak from critics.
If you read the full memo released by Disney, the key word is “belonging.” It appears 5 times in the 10 paragraph memo. Belonging is a popular phrase for DEI rebranding, one that we’ve seen before. For instance, when Texas clamped down on DEI efforts on campus.
A public university in Texas has reworked its diversity, equity and inclusion office ahead of a law that takes effect Jan. 1 banning DEI offices at public universities in the state.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has closed its Office of Inclusive Excellence and is opening the Office of Campus and Community Belonging with the same staff due to the new law, President Taylor Eighmy announced in a recent campuswide email.
Same staff, same ideology but a new name for the office. Some DEI trainers are even referring to it as DEIB now to emphasize belonging.
My guess is that this is exactly the kind of surface level rebranding Disney is pursuing. Nothing much will change but references to “DEI” will be downplayed because they’ve become a red flag for critics. I don’t think this makes much difference but to the extent belonging is more universal and more focused on equality of opportunity rather than equity, i.e. equality of outcomes, I guess that’s positive.
There was one change made that wasn’t included in the memo. Disney changed the content warning that plays before some of its older classic films.
Disney is also updating disclaimers that run before certain titles on its streaming services that currently warn viewers of “negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures.” In a forthcoming change, the tag will read, “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions,” and be included in the Details section.
Again, it’s not much of a difference. Maybe it’s slightly less aggressive? That’s probably the best we can hope for from Disney.
