Today marks one year since the tragic death of George Floyd. The Clear Company’s Race Equality Consultant Susan Abumere reflects on the impact his death has had on the workplace. She also outlines the company’s initiatives – both external and internal – to promote race equality at work.
The murder of George Floyd sent a shock wave around the world like we have never seen before. This tragedy, which was undeniably a deeply traumatic event for all Black people, clearly revealed the racial tensions that defined the experiences of Black people in the US and beyond; and the events that followed represented many things for different people.
Firstly, it provided an atmosphere for people of different races to have conversations that were never had before. There was an opportunity to listen, to share perspectives and make commitments to doing better. Secondly, it inspired people from multiple backgrounds, communities and companies to get involved; and come together to affect real change in our communities.
TAKING A STAND AGAINST RACISM
At the Clear Company, we have always encouraged businesses to have conversations and raise awareness of race and racism in the workplace; and last year, we asked companies to Take a stand against racism in the workplace. I have also always been taught how important it is to make sure our actions match up with our words; before attempting to lecture the public.
So, on this day, which marks one year since the tragedy of George Floyd’s death, it is important to reflect on how much we have learned about the injustices people from minoritised racial backgrounds; specifically Black people face in society and within organisations and reflect on our mission, values and actions as an organisation to create a welcoming and safe place for all people.
PROMOTING RACE EQUALITY AT WORK
At the Clear Company, we are committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) through every aspect of our business to support our clients in their DE&I journey. Consistent with our mission and values the ways in which we have grown within the organisation with respect to race awareness and promoting race equality include:
- We expanded the team to include more people from racially diverse backgrounds and filled the role of a Race Equality Consultant to support our client projects; specifically from a race and ethnicity perspective informed by best practice, leading research and lived experience.
- We are intentional about educating ourselves and having open honest conversations about anti-racism and allyship. Creating a psychologically safe environment where people are free to be themselves and bring their whole selves to work.
- Additionally, we have carefully reviewed our online Global Inclusion Standard, Clear Assured through a race lens; and provided additional resources and updates to support companies in addressing the issues affecting Black and Ethnically diverse employees.
- We developed our Anti-Racism toolkit with our partners – Diversity Practice; which provides an expert led first step into opening up the conversation about racism in the workplace.
- We have updated our Clear Audit methodology, specifically for race equality.
ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES
While we have made progress, we are not perfect by any means and still have a great deal of work to do to ensure everyone regardless of background has an equal chance to thrive in the workplace. We continue to offer support to our clients in their DE&I journey by providing anti-racism workshops and resources; like the anti-racism toolkit and Clear Assured to enable them to have courageous conversations about race and develop a psychologically safe environment.
We remain committed to doing our part to encourage positive change and conclude by urging people to reflect on “why there is low representation of Black people in the organisation; and/or why are there no or so few Black people in the C-Suite?” It’s also important to ask “How can your behaviour be more inclusive for people from diverse ethnic backgrounds and how do you help Black people advance within the workplace in the long term?”
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Susan Abumere is a Race Equality expert with experience in using solution-focused approaches to selection and assessment, leading on research projects with clients in the private and public sectors; most recently conducting a Race Equality audit for a global agricultural business. Abumere is particularly passionate about promoting cultural intelligence in the workplace and helping organisations to attract talent across difference. She is currently undertaking doctoral research into how multinationals and global organisations can adapt their diversity and inclusion initiatives to fit different cultural contexts at Alliance Manchester Business School.
CEOS STAND AGAINST RACISM
For the first time ever, CEOs stand up to racism, following the horrific events against members of the Black community – after the tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, last year. Click here to read more.
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