Apple Chief Tim Cook says that the programs ofi may have to change

Apple Chief Tim Cook said his company may have to change his diversity practices as the legal panorama of the United States changes.

His comments occurred a few minutes after most shareholders rejected a proposal that asked the technological giant to consider ending their diversity policies, such as the use of race and sex in hiring decisions.

Apple had urged the shareholders to vote against the measure, that the company had argued that it was “inappropriately” dealing “with microgestion” of their business.

The company’s scrutiny occurs when the president of the United States, Donald Trump, has requested the end of programs for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the government and the private sector, even in Apple.

In publication on social networks The day after the meeting, Trump increased the pressure on the company.

“Apple should get rid of the dei rules, not only make adjustments to them,” he wrote in a publication of all capital letters. “Dei was a hoax that has been very bad for our country. ¡¡¡¡¡

Trump Dei’s orders have encountered legal obstacles, but many companies in the United States, including big names such as goal, Amazon and Goldman Sachs, have already finished or delayed their own policies, citing legal risks.

Apple’s decision to fight against the proposal of the shareholders had stolen that tide.

The measures of the shareholders opposed to the companies rarely succeed, so the result of the vote on Tuesday was expected.

He marked the second high profile defeat of the shareholders proposal addressed to Dei, after a rejection similar to the retail Costco.

However, despite the vote, Mr. Cook recognized on Tuesday that the company could have to alter some of its practices.

“As the legal landscape around this problem evolves, we may need to make some changes to fulfill, but our star of the north of dignity and respect for all and our work will never hesitate,” Cook said during a question and Y- Response session at the annual shareholders meeting of the company.

He pointed out that Apple did not use “quotas” for hiring, a practice that has come for some of the most fierce criticisms, while saying that the company’s strength came from a culture in which “people with various background and perspectives are joined “

“We will continue working together to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best job,” he added, saying that the company would continue “committed to the values ​​that have always done us who we are.”

The proposal aimed at Apple’s policies was supported by the National Public Policy Research Center, a group of conservative experts, which had also presented the proposal in Costco.

He argued that the existence of Apple diversity and inclusion programs exposed the company to “reputational and financial risks”, which point to the broader corporate withdrawal and the wider corporate withdrawal and pointing out that recent demands have facilitated workers to demand for discrimination.

Stefan Padfield, of the Free Enterprise project of the organization, which presented the proposal at Tuesday’s meeting, said the risks for Apple had increased after the Trump administration recently ordered the staff to investigate Dei in the private sector.

“Vibra change is clear,” he said. “Dei is out and merit is inside.”

Apple’s decision to go back against the proposal of the shareholders, while opening the door to change their policy is an effort to satisfy both sides of the fight, said Angela Jackson, main advisor of the project on the university’s workforce of Harvard and author of the next book, the workplace to win.

But he warned that he left Apple “playing defense.” She said she wanted to see the company directing a more solid commercial case for the programs.

“They have made the correct movements. The only step they could go further … that is, it really: ‘Yes, they are our values, we believe it is the right thing, but it is also an economic imperative.”

The fight for Dei in the United States has asked questions about whether such policies in other countries will face similar challenges.

Catherine Howarth, executive director of the Shareaction of the beneficial investment organization, said she thought Apple, a global and consumer -oriented company, had bet that the benefits of delaying the proposal of the shareholders exceeded the risks.

“It is not popular among consumers and is not popular among employees to abandon what supposedly were their principles in this area until recently,” he said.

“They think it would decrease very badly, and it would, with its global consumer base.”

Shareholders also rejected proposals that would have required Apple to report their privacy practices, charitable and political donations to combat child sexual abuse.

They supported the members of the Board supported by the company, as well as their executive compensation, including a payment package for Mr. Cook worth more than $ 74 million.