Citing the “current shortcomings” of EDI programmes and what they refer to as “societal backlash and increasing polarisation,” the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) – an organisation that provides resources, certifications, and advocacy for human resource professionals worldwide, recently announced its decision to drop “equity” from its EDI strategy.

SHRM’s decision has drawn sharp criticism with concerns ranging from the decision being a distraction to the beginning of a potential abandonment of EDI efforts altogether.

This is a concern that was deepened when back in June the Tech Talent Charter – a UK non-profit set up to improve diversity and inclusion efforts across the tech sector – announced that it was closing after nine years, citing the sidelining of diversity initiatives and falling budgets.

In an open letter to members, the TTC said that many companies are ‘quiet quitting’ their diversity and inclusion efforts.

“Increasingly, D&I (diversity and inclusion) initiatives are performative at best – and a fig leaf for poor behavior at worst,” the open letter read.

Further to SHRM’s to drop equity from its strategy, a petition led by Equitable HR Guild, which has some 700 signatures at the time of writing.

In the wake of this policy and strategy shift by such an influential organisation as SHRM, Tenth Revolution Group has decided to publish new data that speaks to the experiences of tech professionals with regard to EDI programs.