Microsoft reportedly fires DEI team — becoming latest company to…

Microsoft has reportedly laid off a team devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion after pouring millions of dollars into the initiative — becoming the latest major company to ditch the “woke” policy. The Big Tech giant disbanded the DEI team at the beginning of the month due to “changing business needs,” according to a July 1 email obtained by Business Insider. It is unclear how many employees were affected. The decision was a further sign that companies are pulling back on diversity-based initiatives that were put in place following the 2020 death of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protest campaigns. In June 2020, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella pledged to double the number of black employees at the company by 2025. AP Last year, Google and Meta reduced the scope of their DEI programs and cut staff as part of restructuring and layoffs at both companies, according to CNBC. On Tuesday, tractor giant John Deere announced it will scuttle nearly all its DEI polices in favor of a quality-based workplace. That followed a decision last month by farm chain retailer Tractor Supply to axe all DEI goals and positions. Explore More Zoom, Snap, Tesla, DoorDash, Lyft, Home Depot...