For several years, Ericsson's annual reports have included accounts of the company's work on diversity and inclusion, but now they are conspicuous by their absence.
In the latest annual report, the words are not mentioned at all in the description of Ericsson's personnel policy, compared to twelve times in the previous one, according to Dagens industri.
The change comes after Trump's repeated harsh outbursts against so-called DEI guidelines for diversity, equality, and inclusion within, among other things, the American state apparatus.
"Does not permit discrimination"
Recently, the USA demanded in a letter to large European companies that they follow a presidential order from Trump that prohibits just such guidelines.
Ericsson, however, denies that Trump had anything to do with the changed formulations.
In the 2024 annual report, the language regarding this area was updated for increased clarity. We do not permit discrimination and make decisions regarding our employees based on competence and merits in accordance with applicable legislation, says Ericsson's press chief Ralf Bagner to Di.
In January, the Swedish telecom giant donated several million kronor to Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.
We have a very large market share in the USA and we must be able to work with whoever sits in the White House, said the company's CEO Börje Ekholm to TT then.
AB Volvo retains goals
Truck manufacturer AB Volvo received a letter from the American energy department sent to its factory in Virginia in January, stating that it will examine whether the company "is regular in relation to the law", according to AB Volvo's press chief Claes Eliasson to Di.
But AB Volvo does not believe that the stated goal of 35 percent of the company's leaders being women by 2030 clashes with Trump's presidential order.
We do not assess it that way, as we count on being able to achieve the goal with merit-based recruitment. But it may become a matter of dispute, how they view it, says Eliasson to the newspaper.
