- Former DEI lead Maxine Williams tried to cushion the blow of Meta’s plan to rollback DEI programs.
- The company has several employee-resource groups, known as MRGs.
- After more than a decade as Meta’s Chief Diversity Officer, Williams is taking on a new role.
Meta Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams told staff in a memo on Friday that the company’s decision to back off DEI efforts won’t impact employee-resource groups, according to an internal post viewed by Business Insider.
Employee-resource groups, or ERGs, are worker-led communities that create a sense of belonging at a company. Meta has several of these groups. MRGs are Meta employee resource groups, and BRGs are Black employee resource groups.
In a post to an internal forum, Williams tried to cushion the blow of Meta’s decision on Friday to rollback its diversity, equity, and inclusion program. Some staff criticized the move, while at least one worker called it “pretty reasonable.”
“I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that these changes may be difficult to understand and process since they represent a significant shift in our strategies for achieving the cognitive diversity we value,” Williams wrote.
She stressed that the changes won’t impact Meta’s support for MRGs and BRGs.
“You play a critical role in creating a place for community and connection — among us and with the company,” she added.
“I have watched you show support, share resources, and bond through learning, understanding, and appreciating our various backgrounds. Our Global Communities contribute to the richness of our experiences as we learn from each other and leverage our different backgrounds, working together to build products for the world.”
Williams has been Meta’s chief diversity officer for more than a decade. On Friday, she told staff that she’s taking on a new role focused on Accessibility and Engagement.
“But I, and my team, will continue to support you as contribute to our global community at Meta,” she wrote.
Do you work at Meta? Contact BI reporters from a nonwork email and device at jmann@businessinsider.com and pdixit@businessinsider.com.
