On December 16, 2024, Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s Vice President of Inclusive Experiences and Technology, shared an internal message revealing the company’s plan to gradually discontinue and reassess certain DEI initiatives. This change includes “removing outdated programs and materials” as a component of Amazon’s persistent endeavors to tackle representation and inclusion.
Castleberry elaborated that in recent years, Amazon has been evaluating its company-wide programs, all crafted to tackle distinct disparities. She stated that these initiatives aim to wrap up once their respective issues are resolved. The memo additionally highlighted the move towards developing programs that are “open to everyone” instead of letting separate groups initiate their own efforts.
Castleberry explained that over the past few years, Amazon has been reviewing its company-wide programs, each of which was designed to address specific disparities. According to her, these initiatives are intended to conclude once their respective disparities are resolved. The memo also emphasized the shift towards building programs that are “open to everyone” rather than allowing individual groups to create their own initiatives.
Amazon aims to complete the discontinuation of these “outdated” programs by the end of 2024, integrating DEI work into the company’s existing processes to ensure greater longevity. The focus is on fostering a culture of inclusivity that is inherently part of the company’s DNA, rather than an added-on effort.
Moreover, Amazon has revised its «Our Positions» page, combining distinct mentions of particular groups into more general statements about equity and inclusion. For example, a section that once stated, “Inequity in the treatment of Black people is unacceptable,” has been altered to, “We believe that inequitable treatment of any individual, including Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, women, and others, is unacceptable. We support policies aimed at eliminating barriers to equity and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.”
Additionally, Amazon has updated its «Our Positions» page, consolidating explicit mentions of specific groups into broader statements on equity and inclusion. For instance, a section that previously stated, “Inequity in the treatment of Black people is unacceptable,” has been revised to, “We believe that inequitable treatment of any individual, including Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, women, and others, is unacceptable. We advocate for policies designed to eliminate barriers to equity and create an inclusive environment for all employees.”
These updates reflect Amazon’s goal of building more inclusive and effective programs that are embedded within the company’s core processes, replacing standalone initiatives.
