The article critically examines the ethos of the diversity movement in organisational life. The rationale for the diversity agenda is located within a particular turn taken by the philosophies of liberalism and multiculturalism. This results in the extreme idea that one ought not to criticise the ways and views of others--whatever they are. Instead, one ought to celebrate and accept them. Through an engagement with the literature, it is shown that in many cases, behind the egalitarian ethos espoused by the diversity agenda, one finds the ethics of the spreadsheet. It is argued that the point proudly proclaimed by the diversity movement, that it is apolitical, is what makes it ineffectual. (Contains 2 notes.)