More than half of UK businesses changing DEI approach due to Trump's criticism

UK Businesses Reassess Diversity Policies Amid Trump's Criticism of 'Woke' Agenda

Over half of the UK's largest companies are reviewing or abandoning their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives due to criticism from the US government, according to a new study. The research, conducted by law firm Freeths, found that 28% of organisations have made significant changes to their DEI policies in response to the Trump administration's pushback against what is often referred to as the "woke" agenda.

The shift comes as some American companies, including tech giants like Amazon and Google, have abandoned similar initiatives amid concerns about increased costs and regulatory hurdles. The UK, however, has a different regulatory landscape, with protections afforded by the Equality Act limiting the ability for rollback.

While some businesses in the UK are taking steps to reassess their DEI policies, others are adopting a more cautious approach. A significant majority (83%) of corporate legal leaders from various sectors believe that profit considerations often take precedence over ethical concerns in business decision-making. This perception is reinforced by findings that 22% of respondents said they encounter conflicts between profit and ethics "very regularly".

The research also highlights the impact of external influences on company policies. Following Trump's criticism, some UK businesses have taken steps to distance themselves from what they perceive as an overly politicised agenda. For example, BT reportedly dropped DEI initiatives from its bonus scheme for middle managers.

Not everyone is convinced that a more balanced approach is necessary. Helena Morrissey, chair of the Diversity Project, argues that ethics and profits are not mutually exclusive. "Ethics is all about doing the right thing," she said. "I don't really see how it's ethics or profits – or how ethics are woke – that doesn't make any sense to me."

The study does offer some positive news, however. The proposed equality (race and disability) bill, which would compel employers with more than 250 staff to report on ethnicity and disability pay gaps, is seen as a step in the right direction.

As the debate around DEI policies continues, it remains to be seen how UK businesses will navigate the complexities of this issue. One thing is certain, however: the impact of external criticism, particularly from the US government, cannot be ignored.

omg so like, Trump's all over the dei agendas in the uk and i'm low-key worried lol. its not that bad ppl, we need more inclusivity & diversity in our workplaces, fam but idk man, 83% of corporate legal leaders think profit is way more important than ethics? that's wild like what about all the good vibes we're spreading?! btw, helena morrissey makes a legit point tho its not mutually exclusive, we can do both profits & ethics, no need to choose between them

ugh I'm literally so frustrated with this whole situation , first off the US gov't is trying to dictate what companies in other countries can and can't do regarding diversity initiatives and now companies are starting to roll back their efforts? like, what's next? they're gonna try to tell us how to teach our kids about inclusivity too?!

and don't even get me started on the fact that 83% of corporate legal leaders think profit is more important than ethics? like, isn't that just a nice way of saying "we care more about making money than treating people with respect and dignity"? it's disgusting.

but at the same time I can kinda see why companies might be hesitant to push forward with DEI initiatives if they're worried about regulatory hurdles or increased costs. like, who doesn't love a good bottom line, right?

anyway I just wish people could have an honest conversation about what's truly important here. is it really about making money and being " woke" or is it about doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do?

[Image of a person with a confused expression, surrounded by conflicting flags (US and UK) with a thought bubble saying "Woke" in a speech bubble above their head]

Who says ethics can't pay off?

[An image of a person trying to balance a seesaw labeled "Profits" on one side and "Ethics" on the other, with a big X marked through it]

When do profits stop being profitable?

[Image of a person holding a sign that says "Equality is not a choice" with a subtle smile in the background]

Equality for all is still the way to go!

[Image of Donald Trump giving a thumbs down with a big red X marked through it, next to Helena Morrissey's quote]

its not surprising that some businesses are taking a step back from their diversity initiatives . i think its great that there are people like Helena Morrissey who argue that ethics and profits aren't mutually exclusive . its all about finding that balance and making sure we're doing what's right for everyone involved . but at the same time, it's also important to recognize the impact of external criticism on businesses, especially when it comes from a place of power like the US government . lets keep having this conversation and try to find solutions that work for everyone

US politics affects our diversity policies? Like we're just going to change ours because of some tweets!

can't believe what's happening in the UK companies are revising their diversity initiatives because of Trump's comments... it's like they're not taking the whole "inclusive society" thing seriously anymore I mean, isn't that what businesses should be aiming for? making a positive impact on society and all that but i guess some folks just want to keep things more "cost-effective". meanwhile, in the UK, we still have our Equality Act which is giving companies more of a clear direction so hopefully they won't abandon ship entirely... fingers crossed

I think its kinda funny how some big companies are getting cold feet about diversity initiatives just 'cause some dude in the White House is giving them grief . I mean, who exactly do they think they're trying to please with this stuff? It's like, you can't buy your way out of being a good person or treating everyone fairly. Plus, what's wrong with being seen as "woke"? Isn't that just a nice way of saying you care about others and want to make the world a better place?

just think its kinda weird that americas influence is affecting the way uk businesses run, especially when its not even a huge part of their culture or market lol i mean some ppl say ethics and profits rnt mutually exclusive but others dont b so sure about it

so i read about this study on uk businesses and their diversity initiatives... they say that half of these big companies are rethinking their policies because of trump's comments on 'woke' stuff. it's weird how something as important as equality can get politicized like that.

i'm all for trying to find a balance between making money and doing the right thing, but not at the expense of people's rights. it's sad that some businesses are getting scared into changing their policies because of external pressure.

on the flip side, i'm glad to see there's still progress being made, like the equality bill that would require employers to report on pay gaps. that sounds like a step in the right direction.

I'm so fuming about this news . Like, can you believe that just because some dude in the States is trashing DEI initiatives, UK businesses are suddenly rethinking their own policies? It's like, what even is wrong with trying to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace?!

And don't even get me started on Helena Morrissey's comment - "ethics is all about doing the right thing" - like, yeah no kidding. But it's not just about doing the right thing, it's also about recognizing that everyone deserves equal opportunities and respect regardless of their background or identity.

I'm so tired of these corporate leaders thinking that profit takes precedence over people's lives. Newsflash: your bottom line is not more important than your employees' well-being!

And can we please talk about how this reflects poorly on the UK as a whole? Like, we're supposed to be some sort of beacon of diversity and inclusion, but it seems like our businesses are just playing catch-up with what's already being done in other parts of the world.

But hey, at least there is some good news - that equality bill is finally on its way! Maybe this whole debacle will spark some real change and push UK businesses to become the inclusive workplaces they should be. Fingers crossed, right?

I'm confused about why companies are changing their diversity policies because of Trump's comments. I mean, isn't the point of having DEI initiatives to make sure everyone feels welcome and included in the workplace? Why would you want to water that down just because some people in the US don't agree with it?

And what's with this "woke" thing, anyway? Is that even a real word? It just seems like a bunch of corporate speak for "be nice". I get that everyone has different opinions and perspectives, but shouldn't we be trying to understand each other better instead of turning our backs on inclusivity?

I do think it's interesting that some companies are taking steps to reassess their policies, though. Maybe they're just trying to make sure they're not getting too caught up in the politics of it all. And I like the idea of the equality bill - it sounds like a good way to hold employers accountable for making sure everyone is treated fairly.

Overall, I think this whole thing is kinda weird. Can't we just agree to be kind and respectful to each other?

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... First, Trump starts throwing shade at 'woke' agendas in the UK and suddenly half the big companies are reevaluating their diversity policies? Sounds like a clever PR stunt to me. And what's with this whole "profit vs ethics" thing? Companies think they can just pick and choose when it comes to doing the right thing? It's all about making money, folks... The real question is: what's in it for them?

.. i'm so done with all this diversity and inclusion drama ugh, can't we just focus on makin' a decent living and enjoyin our lives without havin to worry about all these wokeness issues? it's like, hello, businesses gotta make a profit, right? 83% of corporate legal leaders sayin that profit takes precedence over ethics is not exactly surprisin. but, like, what's wrong with takin a more balanced approach? Helena Morrissey is kinda on point when she says ethics and profits aren't mutually exclusive... it just seems like ppl are gettin all worked up about nothin

90% of companies are just trying to make a buck and don't care about being "woke" . Politicians can't handle the truth that people want equal opportunities . Trump is right on this one, DEI is an overreach by corporations .

I feel for those companies in the UK who are having to reassess their diversity policies just because of what's happening in the US It's like, shouldn't we all want to make our workplaces more inclusive and welcoming? And it's so sad that some people think ethics and profits are mutually exclusive . I mean, can't you do right by your employees and also make a profit at the same time? It just doesn't add up.

And honestly, I'm a bit worried about what this might mean for the equality bill in the UK . We need more of those kinds of initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion . Let's hope that companies like BT are taking the right approach by distancing themselves from whatever it is they think is "woke" . It's all just a bit confusing, but I'm rooting for the people who want to do what's right

I'm like totally against these businesses reviewing their diversity initiatives ... I mean, why fix what ain't broke? They should just leave it alone and focus on making more money ... wait, no they shouldn't because that's not right . On the other hand, some of these companies are trying to distance themselves from this whole "woke" agenda because they think it's too costly ... but at the same time, I'm all for promoting equality and inclusion .

And then there's Helena Morrissey who says ethics and profits aren't mutually exclusive ... I kinda agree with her . I mean, why can't businesses do the right thing without breaking the bank? . But then again, she also said that "ethics is all about doing the right thing" which sounds like a total buzzkill to me .

It's like, what's going on here? Do we need more regulations or should businesses just be allowed to make their own decisions? I don't know, man... it's all so confusing .

It's wild that some big companies in the UK are rethinking their diversity initiatives because of Trump's comments . I think it's a bit concerning that profit is often prioritized over ethics in business decisions, 22% of people saying they face conflicts between the two regularly . But at the same time, it's heartening to see some companies taking steps to reassess their policies and even dropping DEI initiatives from their bonus schemes . I'm also glad to hear that there's a proposed equality bill on the way, which could help make things more transparent around pay gaps . It'll be interesting to see how UK businesses navigate this issue in the coming months .

Ugh, dont wanna believe that some big companies in UK r gettin rid of diversity initiatives just cos Trump says so... like, can't they make up their own minds? but at the same time, I feel for them - it's a lot to navigate all these regulatory changes and whatnot. And Helena Morrissey is lowkey right, I think ethics & profits shouldn't be mutually exclusive . We need more people like her speaking out against the idea that DEI initiatives are just about being "woke" .

You know, I'm all for a bit of balance in business decisions, but when you're talking about fairness and equality, it's hard to argue that profit should take priority . As a DIYer, I've seen firsthand how a little creativity and effort can go a long way – why not apply the same principle to creating inclusive workplaces?

I'm also glad to see some UK businesses taking proactive steps to reassess their DEI policies . It's about time we stopped being intimidated by external criticism and started doing what's right for our own communities .

And Helena Morrissey makes a valid point, ethics and profits aren't mutually exclusive – it's just common sense . Let's not confuse "doing the right thing" with some sort of ideological agenda .

On the other hand, I'm concerned that this debate might lead to more polarization rather than progress . We need to find ways to work together and support each other, not tear ourselves apart .

Anyway, I think it's great to see a proposed equality bill being considered – let's hope we can get some real momentum behind it !