The Price of Performativity: How Abandoning DEI Efforts Undermines Long-Term Success

Abstract

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have become a cornerstone of organizational strategies aimed at fostering equitable workplaces. However, recent trends reveal a growing number of organizations choosing to dismantle these initiatives in response to social and political pressure. Within this paper, we argue that such decisions exemplify organizational performativity by demonstrating a lack of genuine and authentic commitment to diversity initiatives. Importantly, these performative actions likely undermine organizational sustainability, harming employee attitudes and organizational reputation in the long-term. As such, organizations should consider the long-term and costly consequences of abandoning DEI efforts before following this trend.