DEAR EDITOR:

In recent years, American workplaces have witnessed a surge in diversity, equity and inclusion, DEI initiatives and the hiring of human resource, HR personnel who emphasize these principles. These changes are often framed as essential to fostering fair and equitable workplaces. This “woke groupthink” mentality has companies favoring the employment of foreign talent, particularly through the H1-B visa program over American-educated workers, especially when it comes to STEM related employment opportunities.

Many HR personnel have been indoctrinated at many Universities to believe that DEI needs to take precedence over a person’s “merit.” These “checkbox” hires not only harm American-educated workers, but further erode the “trust” that companies hire the most qualified candidate.

The H1-B visa program allows U.S. companies to employ highly skilled foreign workers, often in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM fields. These workers are typically sourced from countries like India and China, where educational systems emphasize technical skills in demand by American industries.

H1-B workers are attractive to employers for several reasons:

Lower Costs: Employers often pay H1-B workers less than their American counterparts due to prevailing wage rules and market dynamics.

Reliability: Visa holders are often tied to their sponsoring employer, making them less likely to change jobs, which reduces turnover.

Specialized skills: Many H1-B applicants possess specialized skills that may be in short supply domestically.

Proponents of DEI argue that a global talent pool enriches workplaces and drives innovation. However, critics point out that the combination of “woke” hiring practices and the prioritization of H1-B workers can inadvertently marginalize American-educated professionals. Here’s how:

Overemphasis on diversity metrics.

Cost-saving incentives.

Skill perceptions.

Reduced opportunities for upward mobility.

The impact on American workers, professionals, especially those in highly competitive industries is substantial. These workers face:

Stagnant wages: The influx of lower-cost H1-B labor can depress wages for domestic workers.

Increased job competition: American-educated professionals must compete not only with international talent but also with systemic hiring biases that prioritize diversity or cost-cutting over local employment.

Erosion of meritocracy: A shift from merit-based hiring to identity-focused practices may discourage highly qualified American candidates from pursuing certain industries.

While diversity and inclusion are critical to creating equitable workplaces, critics argue that their implementation should not come at the expense of American workers. Policymakers and corporations can take several steps to address this imbalance:

Reforming the H1-B program.

Promoting domestic talent development.

Removing DEI within corporations.

Require companies to have transparency in hiring practices.

These “woke” HR practices need to be addressed immediately. It should not matter what race or sex you are; it should always be about “merit,” when it comes down to who is the best qualified.

LARRY G. YORK

Warren