Are Deloitte UK & Deloitte US Doing DEI Differently?
Deloitteās UK office has split with its US business on the topic of DEI.
In the US, the consulting giant has announced an end to its DEI programmes and annual report alongside instructing staff working on contracts for the government to remove pronouns from their emails.
These instructions were sent in emails to staff and reported by the Financial Times.
Richard Houston, Senior Partner and CEO of Deloitte UK and NSE, said in a memo to staff that the UK office will remain ācommitted to our diversity goalsā and āwill continue to report annually on our progress on inclusionā, according to The Telegraph.
Itās not just Deloitte reconsidering DEI ā major companies including Google, Meta, Goldman Sachs, Accenture and McDonald's have rolled back goals.
Why are companies moving away from DEI?
The move comes after US President Donald Trump signed executive orders after his 2025 inauguration aimed at stopping DEI programmes in the US Government and its federal contractors.
āEnding Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunityā, one executive order is titled.
“Roughly 60 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, critical and influential institutions of American society… have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ (DEI) or ‘diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility’ (DEIA) that can violate the civil-rights laws of this Nation,” the order reads.
It revokes a variety of laws that promoted diversity and inclusion within the government and orders a plan to be made to deter large organisations from having DEI programmes “that constitute illegal discrimination or preferences”.
A second order, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing”, says that government DEI plans “demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination”.
DEI in the UK
Three quarters of UK companies are running a DEI programme and nearly 60% of these plan to maintain or increase its budget according to a survey by Censuswide.
When asked if their organisation is “too woke”, only 28% of survey respondents agreed.
US law, of course, does not apply in the UK, so the impacts of the executive orders do not apply outside of US government contractors.
However, building pressure from the giant American businesses pulling away from DEI could make an impact in their UK branches – but Deloitte US appears to have decided against this.
The Equality Act 2010 is a UK law that protects people from discrimination in the workplace and wider society based on characteristics such as disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
If businesses are not careful, following the US’s lead on DEI could fall foul of local laws.
Deloitte UK’s DEI initiatives
“United by shared values, each of us brings our own ideas, skills and perspectives to make impactful changes for our colleagues, clients and society,” Deloitte’s UK website reads.
"We’re committed to ensuring our firm is inclusive, where individual differences are respected and valued. An inclusive culture means encouraging true diversity of thought and creating an environment that allows everyone to play to their strengths,” Richard says on the webpage.
In 2024, Deloitte UK achieved its interim 2025 target of 30% female partners – an increase from 13% in 2013.
It is committed to 40% female partners by 2030.
Deloitte UK agreed its Ethnicity Action plan in 2017 and its Black Action Plan in 2020, which has evolved to become The Deloitte Black Experience.
It has a goal of reaching 12% ethnic minority and 3% Black partners by 2025.
The business has also been certified as a Disability Confident Employer and supports LGBTQ+ colleagues through its Proud Network and allies community.
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