Diversity hires are the first ones to go. Makes sense.
When it comes to layoffs it typically goes like this:
Sales demand drops a lot
- Anyone can get fired, including warehouse and production crews because demand has dropped
- Any department can get chopped
Sales demand is still good
- Support functions like HR, finance, category analysis, various departmental analysts etc.... are the first to go since they arent revenue generators or product shippers
- Since sales are still good, typically production workers are still needed, and sales is often needed to keep sales going, so to improve profits a company can get by cutting some of the less essential functions, or redundancies
- When times are kicking ass, companies often expand on support functions in hopes of efficiencies and analysis squeeze more profits if you got a bunch of internal staff analyzing processes and numbers
DEI kind of people are probably the first to go. Not only are they not sales or production/shipping functions, but they also dont contribute to financial/cost/efficiency support roles either.
Thats why these kinds of roles are heavy in tech companies with tons of money floating around thinking budgets are unlimited, while traditional companies will never build a company with DEI people as the cornerstone.
Think of it like sports. A team might build a core based on a quarterback, or goalie, or starting ace pitchers etc.... Then they round out the team. DEI hires and their HR supporters are like a the loud cheerleader bench player. Loud, can be seen and heard a mile, away but not essential to the team. Half the time they dont even play in games. When times are good, it's fun and cool to have these guys on the team. When the team sucks, these guys get waived mid season or dont get resigned in the off season. The team will find someone else who can contribute in a meaningful way. The comedics are over. Need to find players who can dig in and win.