How the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Affirmative Action Affects Workplace DEI Policies

On June 29, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, which declared that race could not be considered a factor for universities when admitting students. While the future of college admissions has been forever altered, the changes transcend the classroom and higher education. It has a direct impact on hiring policies in the workplace and business’ approach to diversity. 

While there have been no legal changes put into place for corporations, companies’ definitions of promoting workplace diversity will take different forms. Some companies may begin prioritizing recruiting top talent over taking diversity, inclusivity, and equity into account. However, this does not mean that all businesses will be shifting their focus to other elements while recruiting and maintaining their workplace environment. 

In fact, many companies will even begin strengthening their diversity policies to show their commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment. Despite these efforts from some companies, according to Fast Company, many right-wing groups believe that they now have the green light to end DEI programs at businesses. 

Aside from diversity, initiatives have started to play different roles in the workplace, another major shift which will be seen in the demographics of job applicants in future years. The graduate pool will fall into the job candidate pool, and if there will be less diversity among students admitted into college, there will be less diversity among candidates going for entry-level jobs. While this will not be an immediate change, it will definitely change the dynamics and demographics of job markets in years to come. 

The Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action will not only mutate the process of college admissions, but it will also be a major contributor to how companies approach DEI policies now. The meanings of diversity, equity, and inclusivity are shifting, and it’s up to businesses on how they will define them.