Deloitte US asks consultants to drop gender pronouns in email signatures

Deloitte US has brought in key changes to its policies affecting employees who are working on government contracts, besides ditching its diversity and inclusion programmes.

Last week, the company asked the consultants engaged with the US government to remove gender pronouns from their email signatures, Financial Times reported.

What the Big Four companies said?

People familiar with the details said the employees at the company have been sent an email asking them to make the changes “to align with emerging government client practices and requirements.”


This comes amid the shifting political landscape post the return of Donald Trump as the US President.

In a separate email, which was sent on Monday, the company also noted that it would “sunset” its diversity goals and the yearly diversity, equity and inclusion report.

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Trump administration's order

Trump, who returned as the US President last month, directed federal agencies to avoid references to “gender ideology” from the communications.

This was one of his first decisions after returning to the White House. The executive order looks forward to “restoring biological truth to the federal government”.

Also, it states that it would be the government policy to recognise only two sexes in the official documents and messaging, according to Financial Times.

It mandates the US government agencies to ensure “federal funds shall not be used to promote gender ideology.” But no private companies were directed to take any actions in this regard.

Deloitte US joins other companies

Deloitte US is not the only organisation which has updated its policies in recent times. Earlier, Accenture had announced scrapping its global diversity goals along with demographic-specific career programmes.

Announcing its decision, the company cited an “evaluation” of the new US political landscape.

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Deloitte US' response

Last week, Deloitte gave new signature template to its US government consultants through an email to set up by February 7.

While it has confirmed that the guidance on email signatures was provided to the staff, it refrained from commenting on the DEI targets.

“As a US government contractor, we have a long-standing track record of compliance with new governmental requirements,” it stated.

FAQs

1. When did Donald Trump take oath as the US President?
Trump's inauguration ceremony was held on January 20.


2. What is Deloitte US?
It is an accounting and consulting company in the US.