Supreme Court Ruling Against Affirmative Action Forces PWC To Abandon Diversity Initiatives

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a major player in the accounting industry, has recently revised its diversity and inclusion initiatives in response to legal and social pressures in the United States. With a workforce of 46,000 in the U.S., PwC’s adaptations signal a significant shift in corporate diversity strategies.

The firm has altered its approach following a Supreme Court ruling against race-conscious university admissions, which has wider implications for employment practices. This change has led PwC to eliminate race-based criteria in its student internship program and professional accounting exam preparation scholarships. These initiatives were initially designed to enhance the diversity of PwC’s workforce.

In its latest annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) report, released over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, PwC also retracted its commitment to allocate 40% of procurement spending to minority-owned suppliers. The report cites the Supreme Court ruling, economic uncertainties, and social unrest as key challenges to advancing diversity in 2023.

PwC’s revised DEI strategies are in line with changes seen in other corporations, such as Pfizer and Morrison Foerster, who have also broadened the eligibility of their diversity programs.

Despite these changes, PwC maintains its dedication to fostering a diverse and dynamic workforce, as emphasized by Yolanda Seals-Coffield, the firm’s chief people officer. The firm’s latest workforce demographics show a diverse composition, although the language in the report has shifted from setting specific “goals” to “aspirations” in reflecting the racial makeup of the U.S. university student population.

This development comes amidst heightened scrutiny from groups like America First Legal, which challenges corporate diversity efforts as discriminatory against white employees. PwC’s response showcases a nuanced approach to adapting DEI efforts within the evolving legal and social landscape, reaffirming its commitment to diversity while navigating new challenges.