On December 16, 2024, Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s Vice President of Inclusive Experiences and Technology, shared an internal message revealing the company’s plan to gradually discontinue and reassess certain DEI initiatives. This change includes “removing outdated programs and materials” as a component of Amazon’s persistent endeavors to tackle representation and inclusion.
On December 16, 2024, Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s Vice President of Inclusive Experiences and Technology, issued an internal memo announcing the company’s decision to phase out and reevaluate some of its DEI initiatives. The move involves “eliminating outdated programs and materials” as part of Amazon’s ongoing efforts to address representation and inclusion.
Amazon targets the cessation of these “outdated” programs by the close of 2024, merging DEI efforts into the firm’s current processes for enhanced sustainability. The emphasis lies on nurturing an inclusivity culture that’s intrinsically woven into the company’s core, rather than being an additional endeavor.
This strategy coincides with a wider corporate movement among leading companies, such as Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart, which have likewise reduced their DEI initiatives in recent years.
Moreover, Amazon has revised its “Our Positions” page, combining distinct mentions of particular groups into more general statements about equity and inclusion. For example, a section that once stated, “Inequity in the treatment of Black people is unacceptable,” has been altered to, “We believe that inequitable treatment of any individual, including Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, women, and others, is unacceptable. We support policies aimed at eliminating barriers to equity and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.”
Additionally, Amazon has updated its “Our Positions” page, consolidating explicit mentions of specific groups into broader statements on equity and inclusion. For instance, a section that previously stated, “Inequity in the treatment of Black people is unacceptable,” has been revised to, “We believe that inequitable treatment of any individual, including Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, women, and others, is unacceptable. We advocate for policies designed to eliminate barriers to equity and create an inclusive environment for all employees.”
These updates reflect Amazon’s goal of building more inclusive and effective programs that are embedded within the company’s core processes, replacing standalone initiatives.