Target is far from the only retailer to capitulate to the Trump administration and roll back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, but it has suffered more backlash, foot-traffic declines, and reputational damage than others that did so.

One reason that consumers may seem inordinately disappointed with Target—and some are even boycotting the company—is that it trumpeted its commitment to DEI for decades before its retreat just five days after Trump’s inauguration—an inauguration, it turns out, to which Target contributed $1 million.

In 2009, for example, Target received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) annual Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies on their inclusiveness for LGBTQ+ employees. It’s a milestone that Target still includes on its online company history timeline, but as part of its DEI rollback announcement, it pulled a 180, revealing it was “stopping all external diversity-focused surveys, including HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.”

This timeline tracks some milestones of Target’s diversity initiatives, as well as the fallout when the company rolled back its DEI efforts in January.

We’ll update this periodically, so if we missed some diversity-related milestones or news events from the more recent past, please let us know at [email protected].

Keep reading here.—AAN

The US House Committee on Agriculture is reportedly planning significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a move that could ultimately put over 27,000 retailers at risk of financial burden, according to new analysis by the Center for American Progress (CAP).

The cuts and changes to SNAP could reportedly include restricting future benefit increases, shifting some of the benefit costs to states for the first time, and increasing work requirements. This could impact not only the approximately 42 million Americans who receive these benefits, but the grocers and larger economies in areas with higher SNAP participation and less food access that rely on these consumers’ spending.

Keep reading here.—EC

Many employers dangle stock options for their highest-tier employees, but more companies, including e.l.f. Beauty, are offering a new carrot by expanding who gets equity in the company.

Founded in 2004, e.l.f. Beauty shot to fame over the last six years thanks to products like Whoa Glow sunscreen and the Poreless Putty Primer, along with its loyal Gen Z fanbase. The company also attributes its growth to its employees and ability to recruit talent consistently, according to SVP and chief people officer Scott Milsten. That starts not only with a foundation based on poreless skin and inclusion for everyone, but attractive benefits.

Keep reading here on HR Brew.—KP