Feb 12 (Reuters) - The CEO of Dutch staffing giant

Randstad said on Wednesday "the headlines are bleaker

than the reality" as some U.S. companies change their diversity,

equity and inclusion (DEI) policies targeted by President Donald

Trump.

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has issued a series of

executive orders aimed at scrapping DEI initiatives across the

federal government and the private sector.

Some of the largest businesses in the U.S., including Walt

Disney ( DIS ) and Amazon.com ( AMZN ), have reportedly

responded to these efforts by changing their DEI programs and

removing references to them in their annual reports.

Randstad CEO Sander van't Noordende said companies were

seeking to ensure their work environment was inclusive even as

they move away from some initiatives deemed "problematic" in the

light of the executive orders.

"We see companies stay the course on making sure they have

an inclusive work environment where people feel a sense of

belonging. And why? Because it's good for business," he told

Reuters following the publication of Randstad's fourth-quarter

results.

Trump's orders have been criticized by advocacy groups who

say they might deepen inequities and undo decades of progress

made to enshrine civil rights protections for marginalized

groups.