Thread regarding Medtronic Inc. layoffs

Blackrock is dropping DEI, at least certain aspects of it. They are doing so because of the new government disfavor toward it. Medtronic is indirectly highly dependent on government funds, since many customers receive Medicare and Medicaid payments. So I anticipate that Medtronic will step back from the DEI push too. It would probably take the form of dropping hiring goals for DEI characteristics, but I would be surprised if they did away with ERGs. Those groups are driven by volunteers who feel passionately about certain topics, but they don't limit someone's advancement.

DEI is here to STAY!!!!

I am a minority engineer who worked at Medtronic for almost three years. I do not support policies of DEI and Affirmative Action that promote inclusion without merit. With that said, I do not believe that Medtronic had that type of DEI on the projects I worked with. I am from a rare minority group with multiple master's degrees in different fields of engineering. I earned those degrees in a state where affirmative action had been outlawed over 20 years ago. I sometimes got the highest score on an engineering exam in graduate school. I have done graduate research on multiple areas of biomedical engineering and almost went to medical school in my youth but chose to stay in engineering. For example, I was a clinical SAS programmer for surgical stents on a study of clinical efficacy done in collaboration with a surgical device company and an academic cardiothoracic surgeon.

I have written thousands of pages of engineering documents for FDA compliance with extreme speed. Multiple managers have said I am the fastest and best technical writer they have ever worked with. I am also fluent in multiple programming languages and AI/ML. I know how to use Pytorch and AI to detect tuberculosis in chest x-rays. Despite all those skills combined with being a "minority", my job was still sent overseas to India. Even that offshore team did not want me to leave. They recognized my diverse skills and wanted to continue working with me. So, the executives just sent my job offshore.

So, I do not support the polices of DEI and Affirmative Action that promote diversity without merit. I am a minority from a rare ethnic group. I can speak a language on the verge of extinction. But I still believe in merit first. Studies have shown that the DEI/AA policies that promote diversity without merit actually hurt minorities. The key statistical pattern was identified by Dr. Richard Sander of UCLA in his review of law school students. He found the "mismatch" problem was a serious issue in those flawed DEI/AA policies. Moreover, such policies are rooted in the eugenic racism by President Richard Nixon. He was the guy who originally created DEI/AA without merit. You can read about it at "Affirmative action: It’s time for liberals to admit it isn’t working." A good article arguing against DEI/AA is "How Affirmative Action Backfires by Richard Sander".

So, I don't think DEI is the problem at Medtronic on the projects I had worked with. It's more complicated than that. The minority and female engineers I met at Medtronic were competent. By contrast, I met minorities at other companies who in some cases were clearly not qualified but were hired for diversity. I worked with one guy from Mexico who struggled with technical writing but was somehow made a product owner to write requirements. I systematically pointed out his design errors, but then they promoted him to principal product owner. That was DEI at its worst. I recall a female director out-of-state who was clearly not experienced for the senior job but had been hired for "diversity". She only had about five years of experience. A white male would probably get that job after about 15-20 years. It's annoying when that happens with requirements analysts because then the design flaws propagate downstream into the production cycle and are very expensive to fix.

So, I agree DEI and AA are flawed policies. There are alternatives to DEI/AA that actually work. Although I did not witness DEI without merit on my projects, I am aware others may have witnessed such clusters given the company is very large.

I had held back on comments for this Medtronic board because I had thought I might get rehired in the new year. But since that has evaporated like ice on a sidewalk in Austin, TX in July, I figured I may as just "let loose" on comments - lol. The irony is that the fields outside of the medical device industry are far more interested in my skills. I actually got a job in the financial industry the day after my project ended at Medtronic. Go figure.
I miss my coworkers on my projects at Mounds View and revere how those at the director level and below tried to save my job. One of those directors ended up leaving himself after all the turmoil. The layoffs all happened at the executive level when they sent the jobs to India. The executive reminded me of "Gordon Gecko" from that film "Wall Street' who said "Greed is good" with the tone of an 1800s 49er with insatiable lust for gold. In my original language, the word for a greedy gold miner like that is "innaah chih neeh". English was actually my 2nd language in early childhood, but Catholic Nuns taught me fluent English in secondary school.

Best wishes to you all. Just know that not all minorities support DEI/AA in its flawed form. See the "Black Conservative Perspective" by Greg for his numerous videos arguing against AA/DEI. When AA was outlawed in FL, I never heard a minority complain. Graduation rates actually went up when AA ended. This is because the mismatch problem identified by Richard Sander was eliminated. DEI in its flawed form "su-ks" - lol.

Boston Scientific supports DEI and they had one of the best years of the company last year. They are paying 150% bonus.
READ. THAT. AGAIN!

The whole problem is GM and his accomplices!

if DEI/ERG costs more than it returns it should be revisited or retired.

It should be a financial transaction like everything else.

If you pause, filter out the noise and lend an ear to Wallstreet, you'd think that DEI spending did not yield returns.

MAYBE put DEI on a PIP and package it if no improvements in 3 months?

We gave it a shot. Its time to engage the cuts.

@24m+1jkdt5ve5 For similar reasons that there is not a White History Month there is not a White ERG. Society has historically, and still remains, weighted in favor for white people over other ethnicities. Hetero white males have inherent privileges and advantages that other groups do not. Society is essentially the white ERG and I am saying this a hetero white male. If you don't want to join an ERG then don't but don't try to take them away from people who enjoy them and find value in being a member.

I saw it written recently that the purpose of DEI efforts is not to select unqualified women and people of color over white men but to open those opportunities to everyone who is qualified regardless of gender, race, etc. Of the top 15 leaders (VP, EVP, Pres, C-suite) listed, 13 are males and 8 are white males. Turning business failures at Medtronic, or any business for that matter, into solely a cultural issue is not a logical argument. Hiring more white people will not reverse bad business decisions made by other white people.

You are making a lot of assumptions about my intent and my character just because my opinion and thoughts are different than yours. The question simply asks for you to think about why there is no "white" group - European by your definition, I believe. It is not to be antagonistic. The largest group of people at Medtronic do not have their own ERG. I'm looking to see your insights on why you think that is. And no, I do not support DEI/ERG based on race. Why would you think I would want to create the group myself? You're missing the point.

Geoff will go full whatever the &&@@()$ when he’s given an easy out. The fascist party will tie their fear to federal money or FDA approval and he will say it’s necessary to do business. No point in asking when before. Wait for the EO.

PBS and NRP just closed their corporate DEI offices for a fear of losing government funding.

I think you just need to be specific... there is no "black" group. It's the African Descent group. What do you even mean by "White"? I think that's your problem here... It's too all-encompassing of a characterization that applies to literally most people. You have fair-skinned Asians, fair skin latino... if you want a "Dutch club" or "UK United" or something I'm sure it'll pass. I hear they're even trying to start an "Armenian" ERG, which by the way, falls under the category of 'white' as well. You probably need to be more specific. I get you're being contrarian for the sake of pointing out an 'inconsistency' for making yourself feel superior to your peers. I get it. I'm also an elitist. But let's be real- you want a 'white', straight people ERG... will you even join it? Are YOU planning on hosting activities, events, meetings, or engaging in any group activities? Have you even tried starting an ERG like this? Has it occurred to you that maybe... people in your group don't actually need this ERG so they haven't started it? It just sounds like you're complaining for the sake of complaining rather than there being an actual desire to run a 'white' ERG...

I respect IDE but let’s get one thing important topic straight. If IDE was profitable, Medtronic would be have a $1 trillion market cap. Stop whining and move on with your life.

Regardless of anyone's opinion on DEI the results within Medtronic as measured by any financial metric in the last 5 years are abysmal. Put the petty arguments aside and focus on making excellent products and selling more of them.

Just wondering being a straight Male/Female ... 60 yrs old. Were is the ERG for "seasoned, experienced group that gets shait done" instead of running to every ERG meeting or lunch learning nonsense.

It’s scary that white people would also want to have an ERG group to associate with? Now explain that. Majority should have less community?

Using terms like 'majority' and 'underrepresented' in decision-making processes can simplify the legal burden of proof when challenging these decisions in court.

@g1+1jkdt5ve5 Pretty sure the ‘white group’ represents the majority of employees of this company, especially in executive leadership. If you feel that you are somehow underrepresented, then perhaps you should create your own ERG instead of complaining anonymously about it on a layoff form. This type of commentary is just scary…

Those groups are available, sure, but while there are African, Asian, Indian, Hispanic groups and others, where exactly is the white group?

"There are no groups for straight, non-disabled white people" - what a ridiculous thing to say. MDT has ERGs for Veterans, Christians, Jews, Young Professionals, Seasoned Professionals, etc., etc.

The elephant in the room with ERGs is that there are no groups for straight, non-disabled white people. By bringing it up, you’ll get labeled a n-zi or that you have a victim mentality. A movement that promotes equality quite literally isolates a race.

What’s laughable is that DEI haters forget we are a multi-national/multi-cultural company. It would be hypothetical to drop DEI and tone deaf given the many international coworkers we have.

Sally Saba, our Chief Diversity Officer, recently doubled down on DEI on viva engage. Not much diversity in the responses. Comments against DEI might be your last at MDT.

Keep your receipts. What they are doing is illegal? See supreme court ruling. There are several firms taking cases.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/06/ag-pam-bondi-targets-dei-at-private-companies-and-universities-on-day-one/

The opposite of DEI is the Old Boys Network, an informal system in which wealthy men with similar social or educational backgrounds helped each other in business and job prospects—a meritless time when America was apparently great.

DEI initiatives (ERGs, volunteering efforts, inclusive workshops) are one of the few things adding work culture to Medtronic. I recently came from a company that doesn't do those things. Everything is very transactional. The difference is very jarring.

Going to work just for the paycheck su-ks. You gotta make the environment at least enjoyable to be in too, and DEI efforts do that way more than you probably think.

I am a Boomer and fully support DEI.

Here comes the boomers complaining about DEI and regurgitating what Fox News told them what DEI is.

Studies have shown implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion improves businesses' outcomes.

“active discrimination” okay snowflake, it’s time to put down the orange koolaid & step away from the Fox news. Your delusions will subside with decreased exposure to all that gaslighting.

Hopefully soon. DEI is active discrimination and ERGs are a way to divide and conquer.