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Google says it removed cultural events from its calender last year
Google has removed various cultural events, including Black History Month and Pride Month, from its calendar by default, reverting to a simpler observance system amid rising scrutiny of diversity initiatives within major tech firms.
Key points
- Google removed default listings for several cultural events from its calendar, citing scalability issues.
- Events removed include Black History Month, Pride Month, and others related to various heritages and remembrances.
- The change reflects a broader trend of major tech companies reassessing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
- A spokesperson confirmed that users can still add cultural events manually.
Why it matters
- This decision aligns with growing scrutiny on DEI programs in tech, as companies like Meta and Amazon also reconsider their initiatives.
- The timing of this update coincides with shifting attitudes towards diversity and inclusion in corporate America.
- By mid-2024, the calendar will reflect only public holidays and national observances as defined by timeanddate.com.
Google's decision to simplify its calendar reflects broader shifts in corporate America regarding diversity initiatives, highlighting a potential retreat from previously prioritized inclusive practices.