Want a Career That Aligns With Your Values? Avoid These 10 Companies in 2025

May 13, 2025

Some people change jobs for more money. Others leave because they’re bored. But if you’re here, I’m guessing it’s deeper than that.

It’s not that you can’t do the work. It’s that the company doesn’t reflect what you believe in anymore.

You show up. You care. But now your employer just cut its DEI program, gutted inclusive hiring goals, or quietly wiped “equity” off their website. That sinking feeling in your gut? That’s not paranoia. That’s misalignment.

DEI rollbacks aren’t just political soundbites. They’re career red flags—especially for people who care about inclusion, equity, and being in a workplace where their identity isn’t “an issue to manage.”

More and more progressive professionals are waking up to this. They’re not just switching jobs, they’re walking away from entire systems that no longer fit.

So let’s talk about what a values-aligned career actually looks like, and which companies to avoid in 2025 if you care about your future, your integrity, and your peace of mind.

What a Values Aligned Career Actually Looks Like

You know you’ve found it when you don’t feel like you're fighting the company just to be seen. A values aligned job feels safe enough to be honest. Your team actually talks about things like inclusion without HR panic-scripting everything. You’re not penalized for setting boundaries or asking hard questions.

The best part? Your work starts to matter again. You show up differently when you're not in survival mode. One of my clients made a pivot to a B Corp and told me, "I don’t have Sunday scaries anymore. I actually want to be part of this company’s mission."

That’s what we’re aiming for: aligned goals, safe environments, and teams that reflect the values they put on the website.

What It Feels Like to Be Aligned at Work

It’s not just a job you “tolerate.” It’s one where you feel safe, seen, and respected. Your values, like inclusion, equity, justice, aren’t controversial. They’re part of the culture.

A values-aligned career means you don’t have to tone yourself down to fit in. You don’t have to explain your pronouns in every meeting. You’re not the only person of color in the room. And your mental health isn’t being traded for someone else’s bottom line.

One of my clients said it best: “I finally work somewhere that treats people like people, not problems to manage.” That’s the bar.

Evaluating Your Current Workplace: Signs It’s Time for Change

You don’t need a dramatic scandal to know it’s time to leave. Sometimes, the signs are subtle, but steady.

Leadership stopped talking about DEI.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) were defunded or deprioritized.
People from historically excluded backgrounds are leaving quietly.
Promotions feel political. Meetings feel performative.
You’ve stopped sharing new ideas, because you know they won’t be heard.

If any of that feels familiar, you’re not overreacting. That’s what misalignment looks like.

The 10 Companies That Cut DEI, and Why You Should Care

These aren't isolated incidents. These are examples of a bigger trend, one that signals exactly why your workplace might feel more toxic, more silent, or more misaligned than it did just a year ago. These moves aren’t random, they reflect where leadership priorities really are.

Below, I’ve broken down each company into what happened, why it matters, and what it could mean for your career long-term.

These aren’t vague headlines. These are public decisions that affected thousands of employees, and sent a clear message about who matters and who doesn’t.

1. Walmart

Walmart rolled back major DEI programs in 2024, including racial equity training and internal initiatives that supported underrepresented employees. The company ended its commitment to its racial equity center, withdrew from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and began reevaluating its supplier diversity efforts.

Insider sources said these changes were part of a “business shift”—a term that usually signals cost-cutting with little transparency.

What this means for you: If you work at a company like this, DEI likely won’t be protected during budget cuts. Long-term, that means less representation in leadership, fewer safe spaces, and more pressure to “fit in” instead of being seen for who you are.

2. Amazon

Amazon removed the DEI section from its 2025 annual report and cut internal DEI budgets. Axios confirmed that diversity leads were reassigned and DEI leadership roles dropped from visibility altogether.

What this means for you: A disappearing DEI section isn’t just a PR move, it signals internal disinvestment. If you’re in a marginalized group, don’t expect resources or structural support. It’s a red flag for retention and culture.

3. Accenture

In 2025, Accenture ended its diversity hiring and promotion targets, citing backlash and business realignment. Layoffs included DEI-specific roles, which many insiders saw as a step back from progress made after 2020.

What this means for you: If performance metrics for equity are gone, accountability usually goes with it. Promotions become politics again. You could be doing all the right things and still get overlooked.

4. Target

Target quietly rolled back its racial equity hiring goals and internal inclusion trainings after political backlash. Public DEI statements stopped around the same time. It was a complete pivot from where they stood in 2020.

What this means for you: If you're working somewhere that caves to political pressure, DEI isn't stable. Long-term, it creates confusion and fear around what's acceptable, and you end up censoring yourself just to survive.

5. Disney

Disney removed DEI updates from its 2024 investor reports and quietly ended its “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative, shifting focus away from equity language and toward business outcomes.

What this means for you: Even companies that position themselves as "progressive" can quietly roll back inclusion efforts. If transparency disappears, so does trust. It’s harder to believe in leadership’s long-term commitment to equity.

6. McDonald’s

McDonald’s removed metrics for DEI tracking and reassigned internal diversity leads without a replacement strategy. There was no clear statement explaining the change.

What this means for you: DEI with no measurement is just lip service. If there’s no way to track progress, you’re likely in a place where feedback goes nowhere and bias gets swept under the rug.

7. Google

Google cut DEI-related roles during layoffs and ended race-conscious hiring goals. Bloomberg reported that ERG budgets were also scaled back significantly. The company also removed DEI language from its 2024 annual report.

What this means for you: When even the most resourced tech companies stop prioritizing equity, it sends a signal across the industry. It creates a chilling effect where DEI feels like a "risk" to mention rather than a value to uphold.

8. General Motors (GM)

GM deleted all DEI updates from its 2024 sustainability report and replaced them with broader human capital statements. No further explanation was provided about the shift or what would come next.

What this means for you: If your company removes DEI from its public reporting without clarity or accountability, that’s not just a change in language—it’s a change in values. You’re being asked to trust a system that’s no longer naming what matters.

9. Boeing

Boeing dissolved its entire global DEI department in late 2024, stating it was part of a “business realignment.” They eliminated all open DEI roles with no successor plan.

What this means for you: DEI being framed as non-essential is a huge red flag. If a company sees inclusion as a "nice to have," don’t expect long-term support, leadership development, or fair hiring processes.

10. Meta

Meta ended its formal diversity hiring program in 2025. ERG funding was deprioritized and remaining DEI initiatives were folded into general operations. Reports described the reductions in DEI-specific roles as significant and widespread.

What this means for you: When DEI is treated as a trend, you’re always one news cycle away from losing the structures that made your workplace feel safe. Career advancement becomes unstable, and so does your sense of belonging.

One of my clients worked at one of these companies and told me: "After the layoffs, all the safe people were gone. No more ERG leads. No more advocates in leadership. Just silence."

If you work at a company on this list, or one acting like it wants to be, you should be asking yourself: can I build a career here, or am I just surviving it?

The Relationship Between DEI Cuts and Toxic Work Environments

When DEI disappears, toxicity rises.

People stop reporting bias, because nothing gets done. Microaggressions become normal. Leadership plays defense instead of creating real safety. And employees from underrepresented groups quietly exit, or worse, burn out completely.

One of my clients said, “The minute they shut down the DEI office, it felt like the floodgates opened. Suddenly people were ‘just joking’ again.”

DEI isn’t a bonus. It’s a baseline for a functional, human-centered work culture.

How DEI Cuts Signal Bigger Problems for Your Career

It’s not just about “wokeness” or headlines. DEI rollbacks usually mean:

Leadership is scared to take a stand
Accountability is weak
Advancement depends on assimilation

If you're ambitious and values-driven, this is a career ceiling. Your best ideas won't matter in a place that punishes people for being different.

You’ll stay stuck, silenced, or shuffled out. Not because you're not good enough, but because the system wasn’t built for your success.

Steps to Align Your Career with Your Values

You don’t need to do a total overhaul. But you do need clarity.

Start by writing down what matters most to you: is it social impact? Mental health support? Working under women of color? Then ask: does my current job align with any of that?

If not, it’s time to pivot.

Start small:

Rewrite your LinkedIn about section to reflect your values
Research companies that are actually living their DEI goals
Talk to people working in those orgs

You don’t need permission to want more.

How to Leave a Misaligned Job Without Starting Over

The biggest lie is that you have to start from scratch. You don’t.

I’ve helped clients transition out of misaligned jobs using the exact skills they already had, just reframed for purpose-driven companies.

We’re not talking about a full career pivot. We’re talking about packaging your experience for companies that actually value it.

You don’t need another certification. You need a clear narrative and a better match.

Where to Find DEI-Driven, Progressive Companies in 2025

Use B Work to find certified B Corps
Check The Muse and BuiltIn for DEI-forward orgs
Follow leaders in social impact and nonprofit spaces on LinkedIn
Google “Best Companies for DEI 2025” (but then read employee reviews)

And don’t underestimate your network. Ask people in values-aligned roles where they love working. Word of mouth > corporate branding.

You Deserve a Career That Matches Your Morals

If your company is on that DEI cut list, or acting like it’s headed there, this is your cue.

Don’t stay where you’re shrinking. Don’t wait for leadership to get it together.

Your work deserves a workplace that reflects your values, not rejects them.

Book your free 1:1 Career Clarity Call and take the first step toward work that actually aligns with your values.

FAQs About Values Aligned Careers

What is a values aligned career?

A job where your employer’s practices match your personal values like inclusion, justice, equity, and transparency.

What if I can’t afford to leave right now?

You can start planning your exit now. Rework your resume, start networking, and identify aligned companies. You don’t need to jump overnight.

How do I know if a company aligns with my values?

Look at leadership diversity, DEI updates, ERG activity, and public transparency. Vibes matter, but so do receipts.

Can I use my existing experience in a new industry?

Yes. You just need to reframe it for mission-driven orgs. I’ve helped clients do this without going back to school or taking a pay cut.

About the Author and Career Clarity Coach

Theresa White, Career Clarity Expert, 5x Certified Career Coach, and the Founder of Career Bloom, is known for her expertise in guiding people to get unstuck and find the direction they need to move forward in their careers—fast. In a time when so many people are re-evaluating their work, Theresa offers actionable insights that empower clients to identify their true strengths and pursue work that genuinely aligns with their goals.

Theresa’s clients often call her sessions “epiphanies” and “transformational.” She brings immediate clarity to career goals, helping people unlock a deep understanding of what makes work fulfilling for them. Past participants consistently describe her approach as “spot on” and an “answer to questions they’d been asking for weeks.”

Theresa’s approach is empathetic yet practical, and she’s known for empowering clients with a clear direction in as little as 30 days, guaranteeing results.

Connect with Theresa on LinkedIn, listen to the Career Clarity Unlocked Podcast, or schedule your free 30-minute career clarity consultation.

Ready to Leave Your Misaligned Job Without Burning Out or Starting Over?

If you’re reading this and nodding along, let’s not waste time.

Inside my Career Clarity Formula, I walk you through how to:

Get clear on what you want (and stop settling)
Package your experience for aligned roles
Build a job search strategy that actually works

My clients have landed roles at nonprofits, B Corps, and mission-driven orgs in under 90 days.

If your workplace cut DEI, cut corners, and cut respect, you don’t need to stay stuck.

Book a free clarity call and let’s figure out what’s next.