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American workers’ views on the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the workplace have become more negative since the start of 2023, according to a November 19 report from the Pew Research Center.

In general, workers are somewhat more likely to say that focusing on increasing DEI at work is a bad thing – and that their company is paying too much attention to increasing DEI. However, these views vary depending on the characteristics of the workers.

“As was the case in 2023, women, Democrats, and Black, Hispanic, and Asian workers are among the groups most likely to say that focusing on increasing DEI in the workplace is a good thing.” , wrote Rachel Minkin, a research associate at Pew. in the report. “Republicans and men continue to be among the groups of workers most likely to view DEI efforts as a bad thing, and their views have become more negative since last year. »

Overall, 52% of workers said focusing on increasing DEI at work was mostly a good thing, up from 56% in February 2023. In contrast, 21% said it was mostly a bad thing , compared to 16%. About 26% said it was neither good nor bad, down slightly from 28% in 2023.

Similarly, 52% of workers said their company is paying enough attention to increasing DEI, which has remained stable since 2023. However, more workers said their company is paying too much attention to increasing of DEI, increasing from 14% to 19%.

U.S. workers were also more likely to say that DEI practices help rather than harm black, Hispanic and Asian men and women, as well as white women. On the other hand, more workers said DEI hurts rather than helps white men.

Throughout 2024, the decline in DEI has become more evident as more and more companies have canceled their initiativesincluding changes in DEI strategies, a decrease in DEI-related events and worker layoffs. For 2025, HR teams should debunk myths around DEI efforts, emphasize initiatives that make the most sense for a particular company or region, and demonstrate endurance as cultural shifts occur across the world. over time, DEI experts told HR Dive.

However, given the negative reactions, DEI efforts are often met with “delicate and uncomfortable environment” in business, several attorneys said at a SHRM event. Human resources personnel should remain aware and cautious of prohibited practices, such as quotas or tying executive compensation to quantitative diversity goals. However , talent acquisition teams can advertise and recruit in locations to diversify their candidate pools and focus on qualifications such as experience.

Even amid these changes, Most Companies Aren’t Abandoning Their DEI Practicesaccording to a Conference Board report. Organizations said they want to create a diverse and inclusive culture to drive employee engagement, productivity and business growth.