McDonald's Drops Diversity Targets After Court Ruling

McDonald's is rethinking its diversity policies. The fast-food giant announced it's ditching certain aims to boost diversity among its leaders. Why the change? A recent Supreme Court decision made affirmative action in college admissions illegal. Plus, there's been a conservative backlash against diversity programs. Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson are among other big firms that have done the same. McDonald's is also stopping a program that encouraged suppliers to boost diversity among their leaders.

And it's taking a break from “external surveys, ” though it's not saying what those are. Four years ago, McDonald's started pushing for more diversity after facing lawsuits over sexual harassment and discrimination. But now, the company thinks the legal landscape is changing, and it wants to keep an eye on what other businesses are doing. McDonald's will still work to keep a diverse mix of employees, suppliers, and franchise owners. It just doesn't want to set specific goals for doing so anymore.

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