3min
In recent months, our nation has grappled with events highlighting racial inequality, police brutality, and other forms of racial injustice. All across the US, people are speaking out, and protesting in solidarity to demand change. At EverythingBenefits, we wanted to do our part as well.
In hopes of affecting change, our employees recently compiled a list of ideas and actions they can take to support equality while at work. We hope some of their ideas will be worth exploring at your own organization.
Workplace Activities
Our time at work comprises a pretty big chunk of our lives, so it’s a good place to start when thinking about what can be done to support equality. Fair, unbiased hiring and promotion are extremely important, but it shouldn't stop there. Here are some great ways to involve the entire workforce.
- Unconscious bias training can create opportunities to for employees to share their experiences and the things they can do to identify and control unconscious bias in their day-to-day lives.
- Discussion groups can provide an informal environment for constructive dialogue and brainstorming between employees.
- Employee book club is a great opportunity for employees to discuss literature covering the role of race and discrimination in our society. Our employees took the initiative of organizing a book club amongst themselves, and we are encouraged to see so much interest.
- Resource library whether online or at the office can help encourage learning about racism and discrimination.
- Charitable Activities can give employees hands-on experience in affecting change while building a sense of community. From the start, EverythingBenefits encouraged employees to take their annual Service Day to volunteer for a cause of their choice. Ones that can be particularly relevant include tutoring underrepresented students, volunteering as a big brother/big sister, or supervising an intern from an underprivileged school.
Show Your Commitment to Equality
Whichever route you take in fighting inequality, it's important to support your employees' initiatives and back up your words with actions. Recognize that even small steps can make a big impact in someone's life. As this well-known quote goes, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever does.”
