The head of JD Wetherspoon, Sir Tim Martin, advocates for a "common sense" approach to hiring and promoting staff, amidst criticism of so-called "woke companies" by Donald Trump.

Despite Trump's push to eliminate diversity initiatives, Sir Tim believes that diversity should be interpreted sensibly and not manipulated for political purposes. He criticizes the inflexible application of diversity quotas and warns against abandoning sensible diversity policies due to political pressure.

While Sir Tim has previously questioned corporate governance norms, he surprisingly supports diversity in business. He emphasizes that JD Wetherspoon does not enforce diversity policies but sees it as a natural part of their operations.

Refuting the influence of political figures like Joe Biden and Donald Trump on their policies, he underlines the importance of balance in navigating public opinion, favoring prudent policies over virtue-signaling.

JD Wetherspoon, with one female director and 11 male counterparts on its board, has taken steps to enhance diversity by appointing worker directors from diverse backgrounds and creating network groups for LGBTQIA+ mental health and wellbeing, as well as race and gender.

While many companies have revisited their diversity policies following Trump's presidency, British businesses have been more hesitant, creating a transatlantic contrast in the approach to diversity and inclusion initiatives.