💥 BREAKING: Best Buy shareholders voted to reject an anti-DEI proposal at their annual meeting today (tally TBA), as recommended by Best Buy Board. Proposal asked Best Buy to end its relationship with the Human Rights Campaign‘s Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking tool scoring LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Proposal from the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research said Best Buy’s relationship with the HRC and perfect score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index poses risks. BBY Board wrote in its proxy statement, urging shareholders to vote against the proposal, saying that the company is dedicated to “understanding the needs of our diverse global workforce and inclusive culture as part of its day-to-day operations.”
Anti-DEI shareholder proposals, like the one presented to Best Buy today, argue that diversity and inclusion programs pose risks to corporations. But a new study reveals most U.S. business leaders warn that scaling back DEI increases legal, financial, talent and reputational risk. Study from the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law and Catalyst Inc. here: https://lnkd.in/gNv4YJDX
Shareholders of 27 of the largest corporations in the U.S. have voted overwhelmingly to reject anti-DEI proposals in 2025. Boards of companies including Costco, Apple, Walmart, others, have recommended shareholders vote to reject anti-DEI proposals.
