Microsoft laid off a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team this year, with a team leader sending an email saying the initiatives were no longer needed.
The email, sent earlier this month and obtained by Business Insider, is from an individual whose name has not been released. It is unclear how many team employees were laid off.
“True systems-change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020,” said the email, which was sent to thousands of employees, according to BI.
The email reportedly said the DEI team was eliminated due to “changing business needs” as of July 1.
In 2020, following the riots that broke out over the death of George Floyd, Microsoft was one of many companies that pledged to spend millions of dollars to hire more people of color. In June 2020, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella sent an email to…
