Dive Brief:
- Apple shareholders plan to test Apple’s commitment to diversity at the company's annual meeting on Feb. 28, CIO reports. In opposition, the tech giant is championing a proposal that would block shareholders’ call for more diversity in the senior executive ranks.
- While the shareholders commended Apple for having a greater diversity agenda, they criticized the company for diversifying mostly at the junior-staff level in retail, reports CIO.
- Apple argues that it wants to diversify its staff across the company and not just on the executive level. It also claims it’s actively looking to hire more minorities and women for senior-level positions.
Dive Insight:
A diversity initiative should aim to hire minority candidates at every level of an organization. Real diversity gains can only be made when all members are on the same page.
High-level minority and female job candidates aren’t hard to find. Recruiters specializing in placing such candidates can help tech companies like Apple find, hire and train them.
CIO states that Apple doesn’t want diversity to interfere with hiring. The meaning of that statement isn’t clear, but any diversity initiative must include hiring before it can focus on training, leadership preparation, retention or any other aspect of staff engagement and development.