‍The Changing Conversation Around D&I

Since Trump’s presidency, diversity has been a more divisive issue, influencing corporate priorities. Global events, like Goldman Sachs today cutting a diversity initiative, reflect a broader political shift impacting UK businesses.

40% Drop in D&I Conversations

In January, we analysed over 1 million social media posts and saw a 40% drop in D&I discussions. Given the changing public sentiment on diversity, it’s not surprising that many companies have dialled back their messaging.

Is D&I Over?

Not at all. Companies that truly prioritise D&I will continue to champion it, while others may post occasionally to meet expectations, using it as more of a checkbox.

651 Companies Still Championing D&I in January 2025

Here’s just a couple of examples of companies still championing their D&I creds:

• ING celebrated cultural diversity with a photography competition, hosted by its multicultural network.
• Close Brothers hosted a neurodiversity lunch and learn, promoting an inclusive workplace.
• Britvic partnered with The National Autistic Society to assist neurodiverse families in adapting to new product changes.
• A&O Shearman highlighted their Mansfield Certification Plus status, boosting diversity in law firm leadership.
• AECOM marked its seventh consecutive year of a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, reaffirming its commitment to LGBTQ+ equality.

What’s Next for D&I?

In 2025, diversity initiatives will face heightened scrutiny, creating a clearer divide between companies that live by D&I and those who use it as a marketing tool.

Flexible Working: No Major Shift (Yet)

We’ve all read the headlines about companies like Amazon, BR, Asda and Barclays demanding employees back in the office, as well as Trump’s executive orders that ended remote working for federal employees. You’d be forgiven for thinking it too is going to have a knock-on effect on UK companies.

So far there’s been no change in companies promoting their flexible working schemes, but we’re monitoring it closely.

Here’s some examples from the 405 UK companies continuing to prioritise flexibility for their employees in January.

• SSE highlighted its Flexible First policy, enabling employees like Andy, an Asset Engineer, to enjoy personal time, such as kayaking.
• Admiral supports employees like Darryn, a Product Owner, who condenses his hours to work four days a week and focus on caring for his son.
• Skanska promotes work-life balance with flexible hours, a supportive culture, and projects designed to foster creativity and comfort.
• Hedgehog Lab offers a flexible working environment and enhanced parental leave to attract top talent.

What’s Next for D&I and Flexible Working?

D&I: Increased Scrutiny in 2025

While D&I conversations have dropped by over 40% in January 2025, many companies remain committed to championing diversity. The political shifts from the US have affected how businesses talk about diversity, and UK companies are recalibrating their approach. We expect that in 2025,there will be a clear divide between companies who truly prioritise D&I and those who use it more as a marketing tool.

Flexible Working: No Significant Change Yet

When it comes to flexible working, the conversation remains consistent. UK businesses continue to prioritise flexibility in their policies, with no major shift in company discussions. Flexible working is still viewed as essential for supporting employee wellbeing and work-life balance. With major companies sticking to remote and hybrid work arrangements, it’s likely that flexible working will remain a core offering throughout 2025.

If you want to know which HR decision-makers are prioritising D&I or flexible working, we’ve got the data. Check out the platform today for more information.