Microsoft is quietly scaling back its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion within the company, a move that comes at a time when President Donald Trump's administration has been attempting to dismantle these initiatives. The tech giant had previously made reporting on diversity and inclusion a requirement for employee performance reviews and published annual reports highlighting the gender, race, and ethnic breakdown of its employees.
However, in recent months, Microsoft has scaled back its diversity efforts, removing the requirement for employees to report on their impact on promoting diversity and inclusion during performance reviews. The company has also dropped "diversity" from its HR documentation, opting instead for "inclusion." This change comes after Elon Musk's appearance at Microsoft's Build conference earlier this year, which reportedly caused tension internally.
Microsoft is still publishing its Inside Inclusion newsletter and "Code of Us" stories highlighting experiences from employees with diverse backgrounds, but these initiatives are no longer a core priority for the company. The tech giant has also been testing an AI personal assistant called Cosio, designed to report directly to top executives, including CEO Satya Nadella.
The move has raised concerns among some employees who feel that Microsoft's commitment to diversity and inclusion was never genuine. "The fact that the company...just dropped it proves to me that it was always a shallow commitment," said one employee, who wished to remain anonymous.
As part of its efforts to reduce costs, Microsoft is also considering moving Xbox production to Vietnam, where tariffs imposed by President Trump's administration have affected console prices in the US. The company has faced criticism for its handling of these issues, with some employees expressing concerns about the impact on jobs and manufacturing processes.
The move has sparked debate among industry insiders, who are left wondering what other changes Microsoft may be making behind the scenes.
However, in recent months, Microsoft has scaled back its diversity efforts, removing the requirement for employees to report on their impact on promoting diversity and inclusion during performance reviews. The company has also dropped "diversity" from its HR documentation, opting instead for "inclusion." This change comes after Elon Musk's appearance at Microsoft's Build conference earlier this year, which reportedly caused tension internally.
Microsoft is still publishing its Inside Inclusion newsletter and "Code of Us" stories highlighting experiences from employees with diverse backgrounds, but these initiatives are no longer a core priority for the company. The tech giant has also been testing an AI personal assistant called Cosio, designed to report directly to top executives, including CEO Satya Nadella.
The move has raised concerns among some employees who feel that Microsoft's commitment to diversity and inclusion was never genuine. "The fact that the company...just dropped it proves to me that it was always a shallow commitment," said one employee, who wished to remain anonymous.
As part of its efforts to reduce costs, Microsoft is also considering moving Xbox production to Vietnam, where tariffs imposed by President Trump's administration have affected console prices in the US. The company has faced criticism for its handling of these issues, with some employees expressing concerns about the impact on jobs and manufacturing processes.
The move has sparked debate among industry insiders, who are left wondering what other changes Microsoft may be making behind the scenes.
... I thought Microsoft was all about promoting diversity and inclusion, but it seems like that's not as high on their priority list as they thought 
. It's like they took a step back and now they're just kinda...meh? 
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cost-cutting and making the company more efficient, but this feels like a major shift in direction 
. And what's up with the change from "diversity" to "inclusion"? Like, isn't that just a different way of saying the same thing? 
.
. it's weird cuz elon musk showed up at their conference and stuff, but maybe that just shook things up internally? anyway, it's a shame cuz i think it's super important for companies to prioritize these kinds of initiatives 
. plus, some employees are worried about xbox production getting moved to vietnam... that doesn't seem like the best idea 
. I remember when Microsoft first started doing all this stuff, it felt really genuine and positive... now it just feels like a PR move. And don't even get me started on the Xbox thing 
. Like, I get it, companies gotta make moves to stay ahead, but diversity and inclusion were always a huge part of what made Microsoft special 
. It's not just about numbers or reports, it's about creating a workplace where everyone feels seen and heard 
. If they're really scaling back on that... 
I don't know if we'll see the same level of innovation from them 
. And what's up with Elon Musk showing up at their conference? 
It's just another way for management to keep an eye on us. And what's up with dropping "diversity" from their docs? Like, that was always the hard part - admitting we weren't doing enough. Now it's all about "inclusion"... which is code for "we'll pretend to care as long as we don't have to do any real work."
. Like, I get it, cost savings and all that... but what about the people who actually make those consoles? Do they not count?
anyway they're still publishing those inclusion stories which is cool, i guess idk tho if its really gonna make a diff without the pressure of performance reviews 
what's up microsoft what's good with u ??
. and what's with the cosio AI thingy? 
i need some actual sources on this before i can even consider accepting it as fact 
. What's really going on behind the scenes? Is Elon Musk's visit to the Build conference a major factor? 
I'm also super curious about Microsoft moving Xbox production to Vietnam 
...I mean, I get that cost-cutting is important, but at what expense? 
. It was a big step forward for the company, and I thought they were making real progress. But now, it sounds like that's being rolled back 
. Maybe it's just a coincidence? But still, it seems like Microsoft is trying to distance themselves from their diversity initiatives, and that worries me 
. I get that businesses need to make changes to stay afloat, but removing the requirement for employees to report on their impact on promoting diversity and inclusion just feels like a step back 
. And what's up with Elon Musk causing tension internally? Wasn't he supposed to be some kind of ally to marginalized groups? 
Some people are worried about jobs and manufacturing processes, which is totally fair 
. I hope Microsoft can figure out a way to balance their priorities without hurting anyone 
.