As first reported by Business Insider, The Lunduke Journal has confirmed that Microsoft has laid off multiple staff members focused on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity).
However, The Lunduke Journal has also learned, from multiple sources, that these layoffs only represent a small portion of the DEI-focused staff... and that the company will continue to focus on DEI issues and hiring going forward.
The Microsoft DEI Layoffs
One Microsoft DEI Lead stated, in an internal email seen by several thousand Microsoft employees, that their "role and team were eliminated due to 'changing business needs' as of July 1st, 2024".
That DEI Lead went on to say:
"Unofficially in my opinion, not specific to Microsoft alone, but Project 2025 looms and true systems change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020. Hence the purposeful and strategic 3-5 year shelf life of many company's inclusion commitments post the murder of George Floyd are being reevaluated. And the way I see it, the timing was impeccable so businesses everywhere could reevaluate the path forward should their U.S. federal contracts be at risk if the work continues on its face."
The same DEI Lead also accused Microsoft leadership of "discrimination, harassment, and toxicity" directed towards the DEI team, itself. The details of that alleged discrimination remain unclear.
There are many questions surrounding these layoffs. How many employees are involved? And, perhaps even more importantly, what does this mean for Microsoft's overall DEI policies?
Speaking to one Microsoft whistleblower, The Lunduke Journal was told, "[This layoff is] just one head on the hydra. Every team has DEI promoters." The whistleblower goes on to say, "[DEI] is everywhere."
Multiple Microsoft sources made it clear that the majority of DEI-focused Microsoft employees remained in their roles -- and that these layoffs, whatever their total number (which remains unknown), represents a small portion of the total DEI initiative within the company.
Microsoft Remains Focused on DEI
And, certainly, Microsoft appears just as focused on Diversity and Inclusivity as ever. From an official statement from a Microsoft spokesman:
"Our D&I commitments remain unchanged. Our focus on diversity and inclusion is unwavering and we are holding firm on our expectations, prioritizing accountability, and continuing to focus on this work."
Note that the "DEI" was changed in that statement... becoming simply "D & I". The "Equity" was dropped, from in between "Diversity" and "Inclusivity". Whether that was a simple slip, or an indication of future Microsoft policy changes is not yet clear.
Regardless, it appears that this small round of DEI layoffs does not indicate a significant shift away from DEI policies -- and back to meritocracy -- for the Tech Giant.
On a politically related note, Microsoft appears to continue to be encouraging employees to "Gender Transition" their children -- including toddlers as young as 3 years old -- as first exposed, thanks to Microsoft whistleblowers, earlier this year.
Considering the ongoing lawsuits against IBM and Red Hat -- because of the illegal implementation of DEI policies within those companies -- one has to wonder how long before Microsoft either drops these legally and ethically dubious policies... or faces lawsuits of their own.
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