How woke is Caterpillar?

Introduction

Caterpillar Inc., a powerhouse in heavy machinery, has found itself navigating the complex waters of the corporate landscape. Known for its iconic yellow construction equipment, the company is now scrutinized for aligning with social justice movements.

This review examines whether Caterpillar is leaning too far into woke territory, analyzing its financial contributions, policies, and public stance to see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Financial Contributions to Progressive Causes

Caterpillar has written checks that have landed in the pockets of conservative and progressive political campaigns. It is hedging its bets across the political spectrum, including donations to causes supporting social justice and climate change activism. 

Additionally, the Caterpillar Foundation donated $1 million for humanitarian aid, supporting disaster relief and sustainable development​and, by extension, aligning with global social justice initiatives.

Prioritization of DEI Policies

Caterpillar’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of its business model. They say DEI is essential for staying innovative and competitive​. 

However, recent reports pointed out that Caterpillar, along with other big names like Ford and Lowe’s, is reevaluating its DEI policies in response to conservative backlash​. This reevaluation is a step back from some of their more aggressive DEI initiatives. 

Mandatory Training Sessions

There is no information about whether Caterpillar is enforcing mandatory training sessions on unconscious bias or critical race theory. The company is tight-lipped on this, which is surprising given its strong DEI stance. It remains unclear if Caterpillar employees are required to sit through lectures on implicit bias.

Support for LGBTQ+ Initiatives

Caterpillar’s Raika Lambda community, a group focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion, has been prominent in some employee initiatives. They’ve invested a lot of energy into celebrating diversity in gender and sexual identity, claiming it drives innovation in the workplace.

Marketing and Branding

Their long-term business strategy revolves around reducing carbon emissions and promoting eco-friendly products. This strategy evolves to focus on sustainability and climate-conscious practices, which they promote as part of their commitment to reducing global carbon emissions. 

Conclusion

Caterpillar Inc. is a company in transition. Historically conservative, it embraces woke ideologies under pressure from the broader corporate world. However, its recent DEI rollback shows that the company is still trying to balance both sides, leaving us to wonder just how deep into the woke agenda they will go.