As members of the Dayton family, we are shocked and dismayed by Target’s rollback of its Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Racial Equity Action and Supplier Diversity programmes (“Target becomes latest big US company to end diversity initiatives”, Report, FT.com, January 24).
When our father and his four brothers transformed a family department store into the national retailer it is today, it was based on a clear set of principles. They were excellence, the customer is always right, and a commitment to the wellbeing of their community. Not only did they believe these to be high ethical standards, they also recognised them as strong business practices. The better the service, the happier the customer, the stronger the community, the better the business.
We are alarmed how quickly the business community has given in to the current administration’s retaliatory threats. It is not “illegal” for a company to create a business model based on what it believes to be important ethical and business standards. By cowering, Target and others are undermining the very principles that have made their companies a success.
Anne S Dayton
New York, NY, US
Lucy B Dayton
Helena, MT, US
