Google Continues Its DEI Rollback (A Multi-Year Process)

Fiona Cicconi, Chief People Office at Alphabet (parent company of Google), sent an internal email to staff on Wednesday. Reuters first reported on the story.

In the email, Google announced that is has stopped its diversity-hiring goals. 

But this is just the latest step in Google’s steady retreat from DEI that started in 2023. Here’s the timeline.

Google’s DEI Retreat Timeline

June 17, 2020: Google announces specific DEI goals

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, shared the company’s new goals and targets for diversity:

• “We’re working to improve Black+ representation at senior levels and committing to a goal to improve leadership representation of underrepresented groups by 30 percent by 2025.
• “We’ll establish a range of anti-racism educational programs that are global in view and able to scale to all Googlers.”
• “We are announcing a $175 million+ economic opportunity package to support Black business owners, startup founders, job seekers and developers, in addition to YouTube’s $100 million fund to amplify Black creators and artists.”

February 19, 2021: VPs will have diversity, inclusion goals 

Reuters reports: “Alphabet Inc. will evaluate the performance of its vice presidents and above on team diversity and inclusion starting this year.”

December 22, 2023: Google cuts DEI staff and budget

Reports surfaced that the company had already backtracked on key diversity programs throughout the year, citing budget constraints. In addition, Google laid off some staff members dedicated to DEI efforts, signaling that the company’s priorities were shifting well before today’s announcement.

• “Google decided not to hire a 2023 cohort of ECI software engineers (Early Career Immersion aimed at helping underrepresented talent develop skills).”
• “Google and Meta have cut staffers and downsized programs that fell under DEI investment.”
• “Google cut planned learning and development training for underrepresented talent.”

A Google spokesperson said, “To be absolutely clear, our commitment to that work [underrepresented communities and DEI work] has not changed and we invested in many new programs and partnerships this year.”

February 6, 2025: Google ends diversity-based hiring goals

Now, in February 2025, Google has taken another step by eliminating diversity-hiring goals altogether.

Reuters reports that “Google is scrapping its goal to hire more employees from underrepresented groups and is reviewing some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, joining a slew of U.S. businesses scaling back diversity initiatives.”

Alphabet also removed a line from its annual filing that appeared from 2021-2024 saying the company was “committed to making diversity, equity and inclusion part of everything we do and to growing a workforce that is representative of the users we serve.”