Prelude: As an HR professional, I have sought to guide companies with the same mindset as our laws are written. US law is written for “The reasonable person.” Courts use the standard of an “average, rational adult who exercises ordinary judgment and care” to determine whether someone’s behavior was appropriate in a given situation.
Don’t worry; this isn’t a “diversity, ESG, or political/legal rant.”
Let’s say a company has a sign that shows appreciation for Diversity. Politics aside, even in a post-DEI world, this isn’t too far-fetched. Words can mean many things to many people. To overcome confusion, companies define their values so everyone hears the same message.
The best company definitions are short and uncomplicated. The shorter, the better. These are easier to remember and repeat, and hopefully become ingrained between 9-5. You don’t have to live by the values after hours, but the company pays employees and sets the rules. Employment is an employee’s choice. The simplest and least offensive definition of diversity I have seen an organization display is:
Everyone is Welcome Here
Simple and to the point.
Working in HR, I have seen companies overcomplicate diversity these past few years. “Everyone is welcome here.” Why would a company want everyone to feel “welcome?” At its most basic level, companies are paying employees. Companies want focused employees. Just like you and me, we want value when we make a personal purchase.
A focused employee is a productive employee.
A distracted employee is not a productive employee. This employee is not a good value.
Companies are balancing keeping employees happy with pushing them to do more with less. Leadership asks itself every time it spends a dollar or starts a new initiative for the employee’s benefit:
How and where should we invest revenue to keep our employees happy and productive? Companies invest in their employees in different ways. Companies will:
- Provide medical benefits so employees are less distracted by their family’s health. Distractions equal lower productivity.
- Offer training and development. More training enables employees to earn more. It also helps the company have a stronger workforce. Focus equals productivity.
- Celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. This is always a feel-good of individual recognition that is relatively cheap and easy to execute.
- Create an environment where employees feel “safe.” I am not expecting any minority to be their authentic self. I rarely was. But fair and equal treatment isn’t too much to ask.
Every action creates a reaction
If a company has any of the above and then removes one, what message does that send to the employees? How will the company’s customers feel if they hear a benefit was removed? The company could be perceived as:
- We don’t care about our employees’ health
- Training and education don’t matter
- Employee tenure and loyalty mean nothing
What kind of statement is made to employees and customers when you remove “Everyone is welcome here?” As an HR professional with some experience in this area, my perception is that “Not everyone is welcome.”
The next obvious question(s) that will be asked,
“Who is welcome here?” And, “Who is not welcome here?”
A quick interpretation would be, “Not all employees and customers are welcome here.”
Fast forward a few steps in the workplace.
If a CEO declared the company would eliminate “Everyone is Welcome Here,” how would the workforce react? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that some employees will want to retain this value. Not to get DEI on you (If you want to avoid DEI, don’t click the next link), this is for historical perspectives only; the world has had experience with this when protest murals were painted in the streets:
HR knows when a protest is coming
Employees may organize an event to decorate the sidewalk in front of the office with the slogan “Everyone is Welcome here.” CEO’s can’t back down so they tell the facilities team to hose the chalk mural off at 8:00 AM before employees show up for work. How would the workforce react? How would customers react?
In an era of social media, this chain of events would go viral. You don’t need to be in HR to see a protest coming.
If it feels like I am leading you down a path, you are right. In Idaho, Sarah Inama, a 6th-grade school teacher, had a poster in her classroom for the past 4 years. The poster reads, “Everyone is welcome here,” and is shared below.
Take it down!
The school principal asked her to remove the poster because the sign violated district policy against displaying personal opinions. It was explained that not everyone holds this opinion. Remember the definition of a “reasonable person?” An average, rational adult who exercises ordinary judgment and care. Also, remember that this is a 6th-grade class.
She took the poster down but, upon further reflection, reposted it a few days later. Much respect, Sarah Inama.
In response and support, a local T-shirt company has been printing T-shirts and hoodies with the poster graphic. Support has been coming in via orders from not just the US but around the world. I am one of 20,000 who ordered a hoodie in support. You can show your support here.
Child-level protest
A parent organized a “chalk walk” protest where children and their parents decorated the sidewalk in front of the school. Hundreds showed up.
Before
After
Don’t blame the employees: Employees were never trained
I started this blog to help employees negotiate their careers. Most employees have not received any training in schools or the workplace on progressing their careers. Interviewing, talking with their manager, or how to prove they are qualified for new opportunities is all trial and error without training. I have seen too many graduates come to the job interview unprepared.
Blame the school systems: Schools are providing training
I WAS worried about new hires entering the corporate world unprepared to navigate their careers. As if that isn’t enough, now I also need to worry about our school systems teaching the basics of “playing well with others.” Actually the lesson is, “It’s ok to NOT play well with others.” This is what will be entering out workforce soon and leading our country.
I am glad some folks still believe that “Everyone is welcome here.” Thank you, Sarah Inama. I support and respect your actions for teaching our young people the difference between right, wrong, and having the professional courage to stand up.
I get the feeling the Idaho School District has a distraction from its primary goal of teaching.
See you at the after party,
HRNasty
nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky, and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.
Ongoing writing and context live on LinkedIn and Bluesky.
Subscribe to the free weekly updates here. I promise, no spam.
Leave a Reply