Verizon Communications has announced the end of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, aligning itself with a growing federal and corporate movement toward merit-based practices in hiring, training, and advancement.
In a May 15 letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, Verizon said it had eliminated DEI-specific roles, removed DEI references from employee training and marketing, and restructured programs around hiring, supplier partnerships, and executive compensation.
“Verizon recognizes that some DEI policies and practices could be associated with discrimination,” wrote Vandana Venkatesh, Verizon’s chief legal officer, adding that the changes were being made “not just in name or in the way they are described, but in substance.”…