Levi Strauss shareholders have voted against a proposal to end diversity programs.
In the vote, more than 99% of Levi Strauss’ shareholders voted against the proposal at the annual shareholders meeting on 23 April, according to the filing.
“We believe in the strong business case for a diverse and inclusive workforce because it supports company performance and also enhances our culture and the well-being of … our employees,” Levi’s management said.
“Diversity and inclusion principles are critical [to] ensuring that our products reflect and are relevant to our diverse global consumer base.”
This sees them following in the footsteps of Costco, where around 98% of shareholders voted against a similar diversity proposal in January.
The pullback on DEI programs was proposed due to United States President Donald Trump’s push to dismantle the practice in the federal government and private sector following an executive order in January.
Major companies like Walmart, Target and Amazon have pulled back on their DEI programs aimed at women, ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ people and other underrepresented groups.
Disney has since come under investigation for not complying with the president's plans to scale back DEI practices.
Earlier this month, Levi Strauss posted higher-than-expected quarterly profits and maintained annual sales and profit forecasts.
