Deere earns ethics award amid layoffs and DEI controversy

DAILY Bites

• Deere & Company named a 2025 World’s Most Ethical Company® for the 18th time, one of 12 in Industrial Manufacturing.

• Recognition comes amid restructuring and workforce cuts, along with a rejected shareholder proposal on hiring transparency.

• Deere’s board opposed the proposal, citing commitment to fairness, with shareholders voting 200.2 million to 2.8 million against it.

DAILY Discussion

Deere & Company  has been recognized as one of the 2025 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, marking its 18th inclusion on the list and distinguishing it as one of only 12 honorees in the Industrial Manufacturing industry.

This recognition comes amid ongoing company restructuring and workforce reductions, as well as recent shareholder decisions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Despite the accolade, Deere & Co shareholders voted overwhelmingly against a proposal last month that would have required the company to report racial and gender hiring statistics. The measure, introduced by the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative advocacy group, aimed to assess potential discriminatory hiring practices against White men.

The final vote stood at 200.2 million shares against versus 2.8 million shares in favor. Deere’s board of directors opposed the proposal, asserting in a proxy statement that the company remains committed to fairness and inclusivity, and that such a report would not provide meaningful value to shareholders. The majority of investors followed the board’s recommendation.

Kellye Walker, senior vice president, and chief legal officer at Deere & Company, emphasized the company’s ongoing dedication to ethical business practices, stating, “This honor truly reflects the deep commitment our employees, dealers, and partners have to conduct business the right way every day. It underscores our unwavering commitment to integrity, a core value that has consistently earned us this recognition year after year.”

The Ethisphere recognition evaluates companies based on over 240 criteria, assessing ethical compliance, governance, corporate culture, environmental and social impact, and responsible supply chain management. This year, 136 companies from 19 countries and 44 industries received the designation.