Costco board votes against DEI reporting requirements (2025)
| Environmental, social, and corporate governance |
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The Costco board of directors unanimously advised shareholders to vote against a proposal asking the company to report on the financial costs of maintaining its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The National Center for Public Policy Research’s Free Enterprise Project submitted the proposal.
Several corporations—including Walmart, John Deere, and Tractor Supply—announced moves away from DEI efforts (related to the social component of ESG) in the last year. The Costco board’s position breaks the trend and doubles down on such policies.
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Costco is battling an anti-DEI wave with a stern rebuke to activist shareholders looking to end the warehouse retailer’s diversity ambitions. Walmart, John Deere, Tractor Supply and other companies are changing or walking away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. But Costco believes DEI helps its 'treasure hunt' shopping atmosphere, and it is standing behind its efforts. … Costco, which pays some of the highest wages in retail and is considered a progressive employer, is backing DEI at a moment when such initiatives are under attack from right-wing activists, legal groups, conservative customers and President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration.[1] |
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See also
- Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG)
- Economy and Society: Ballotpedia's ESG newsletter
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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