The Growing Backlash Against DEI

In this edition, we explore the pushback on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, allegations of a toxic work environment at the World Economic Forum and how to power through boring tasks.

How Tractor Supply Decided to End Diversity Efforts—Fast

It took less than a month for a conservative activist to target Tractor Supply for its DEI efforts and get the company's management to disavow those goals.

Robby Starbuck, a former Hollywood director with a sizable social-media presence, laid out a string of complaints about stances taken by the Tennessee retailer and its leaders, from a warehouse displaying pride flags to the CEO promoting the Covid-19 vaccine.

The company has conservative shoppers who don’t agree, he said, encouraging half a million followers on X to “start buying what we can at other places.”

Within three weeks, Tractor Supply said it would end DEI efforts. In an interview, Starbuck said he proved a model of blitzing criticism at a company with a primarily conservative customer base. He intends to target others soon.

Read the whole story here.

• The Legal Assault on Corporate Diversity Efforts Has Begun (Read)
• Diversity Goals Are Disappearing From Companies’ Annual Reports (Read)

Behind Davos, Claims of a Toxic Workplace

Despite its lofty goals, the World Economic Forum has faced numerous accusations of sexual harassment and discrimination against women and Black people.

Several female staffers have been pushed out after maternity leave or were sexually harassed at the hands of senior managers. Employees have also registered internal complaints after white Forum managers used the N-word around Black employees.

When Klaus Schwab, the octogenarian founder of WEF, decided the organization needed a youthful makeover, he singled out a group of employees over 50 years old and instructed his human-resources chief to get rid of them all, according to people familiar with the matter.

Read the whole story here.

• In Win for Workers, Supreme Court Opens Door to More Discrimination Claims (Read)
• FDIC Investigation Finds Culture Rife With Sexual Harassment, Discrimination (Read)

Have a Boring Task to Do at Work? Don’t Just Plow Through It

It’s hard for most people to avoid at least some monotony at work. Complete an Excel spreadsheet. Send a perfunctory email.

Workers often think the most productive approach when confronted with mind-numbing tasks is to try to fight off the boredom and plow through them. Now, research suggests that struggling through boring tasks might actually be hurting workers’ ability to be productive later on.

Read the whole story here.

• Should We Let AI Make More of Our Decisions? (Read)
• Beware When a Company Says It Is Trustworthy (Read)

Best of the Rest

Check out some of the Journal's best-read stories on work life over the past week:

• A Day in the Life of a California Fast-Food Manager Who Makes Up to $174,000 (Read)
• Influencers Aren't Getting Rich. They're Barely Getting By. (Read)
• Why I Skipped College to Be an HVAC Tech (Read)

This is a condensed version of WSJ’s Careers & Leadership newsletter. Sign up here to get the WSJ’s comprehensive work coverage in your inbox each week.

This newsletter was curated by Lynn Cook, WSJ's Careers and Workplace Bureau Chief. Reach her on LinkedIn.