Months after Walmart, Ford, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson scaled back their DEI initiatives, McDonald’s has also announced changes in its DEI policy.
Firstly, from now on, the fast food chain will call its diversity team the Global Inclusion Team.
Some of the other changes include the removal of aspirational representation quotas and the termination of the supply chain’s mutual commitment to the DEI pledge.
The company will also pause external surveys to focus on internal growth.
In a letter to the stakeholders, McDonald’s said, “We are retiring Supply Chain’s Mutual Commitment to DEI pledge in favor of a more integrated discussion with suppliers about inclusion as it relates to business performance.”
“We are evolving how we refer to our diversity team, which will now be the Global Inclusion Team. This name change is more fitting for McDonald’s in light of our inclusion value and better aligns with this team’s work,” the company said in the letter.
In the letter, McDonald’s said that the company has made significant strides in promoting inclusion throughout its system, attracting millions of customers and crew members from diverse backgrounds.
In 2024, it opened its doors to hundreds of millions of customers and two million crew members, demonstrating its commitment to inclusion.
Additionally, McDonald’s met its supplier diversity goal of 25% of diverse-owned supplier spend by the end of 2025, three years ahead of schedule.
The company has also recruited the largest registered applicant pipeline in recent years, including the largest number of underrepresented groups in its history, the company said in a letter to its shareholders.
The company stressed that McDonald’s commitment to inclusion is steadfast, with the company focusing on becoming the world’s community restaurant. The company leverages inclusion to operate successfully and grow its businesses.
McDonald’s programs support diversity, pay equity, and retention of world-class talent, with a focus on recruiting team members from local communities and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs.
The company’s business model supports franchisees by empowering them to champion causes and engage in community-focused activities. They utilize employee networks and franchisee affinity groups for problem-solving and hold leaders accountable for fostering inclusivity.
