Line 25 Consulting

Diversity & Inclusion From a Marketing Perspective

equity

Equity, What is it?

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Often we hear the words diversity and equity, but what we hear is diversity ( having individuals from all walks of life) and some other word that looks like equality. We glaze over equity because we simply do not know the meaning of the word, although a simple Google search could fix that. So, what is it? Equity is simply the act of being fair and realizing that all individuals deserve the same opportunities and resources despite their circumstances, while equality wants to give every single individual the same exact things no matter what. In the spirit of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games, let’s talk Allyson Felix.

Rio de Janeiro – Corredoras dos Estados Unidos Tianna Bartoletta, Allyson Felix, English Gardner e Tori Bowie vencem final do revezamento 4 x 100m nos Jogos Rio 2016, no Estádio Olímpico (Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil)

If you have not heard of Allyson Felix ( team USA), you are certainly going to hear about it after Tokyo 2020. Felix qualified for her first Olympic race at Athens 2004 at just age 18 and received silver in the 200m, and from there the rest is history. Since 2004, Felix has competed in every single Olympic game and medaled every game. Now being noted as one the most decorated runners ever with six gold medals, Felix has earned the respect of athletes and spectators all over the world. Before Felix is anything she is a wife and a mother, and most importantly a woman. When mega-giant Nike, who Felix was sponsored by attempted to negotiate Felix’s contract after the athlete gave birth in November 2018, things became interesting.

Firstly, Nike cut Felix’s pay by almost 70% which to many including Felix looked like punishment. Felix attempted to negotiate with Nike but in the end, the two-part ways after she called the company out for not supporting her during and after childbirth. Now, Felix advocates for women who are athletes and everyday working parents to help support them. Felix has shown her resilience on and off the track field and continues to fight for mothers in the workplace.

The biggest lesson here is that Felix did not receive fair or equal treatment because of her circumstances. Equity plays a large role in pay and negotiations, and companies are not always understanding of circumstances. While Allyson Felix, was able to advocate for herself, there are many who are incapable of doing the same.

The young man in the purple knows just how important the difference between equality and equity can be.
ANGUS MAGUIRE // INTERACTION INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Inclusive & Equity Training

If you desire to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment, we offer inclusive and equity training on Displaying Empathy in the Workplace and Managing Employee Engagement. Line 25 Consulting would love to work with you in achieving your DEI goals this year. Use this link to schedule a 15-minute call or send an email to ngome@line25consulting.com to see how we can help you.

What Does the Workplace Look Like During a Pandemic?

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By now many of us working in corporate workplaces have received emails and phone calls from management asking us (scratch that, telling us) to come back to work in the office. While many of us have gotten comfortable with the idea of wearing our favorite pair of pajama bottoms while we take our 8 a.m. Zoom call, that is not the world we knew before the Covid-19 pandemic. What does this mean for employees going back to work in the office after a year-long pandemic?  

For safety reasons, many companies may require employees to be vaccinated prior to returning to the office.  According to Our World in Data, nearly 46% of Americans are fully vaccinated, and less than 8% partially vaccinated. Though a majority of people will be vaccinated prior to returning, companies must still take precautionary measures and follow government-mandated guidelines. For tech giants such as Apple, who prior to the pandemic expressed their lack of support for a work from home policy, life after the pandemic will require many adjustments. As of now Apple is requiring its employees to return to the office in September, and work from office three days a week according to an article by Forbes. Many corporations will have to make similar adjustments in order to keep their employers safe in new conditions.   

The workplace also looks like a bunch of people all trying to adjust to a new workplace culture. Many people have not yet even met in person, only through a limited camera lens on their computer. Some hired only during the pandemic have only known what it means to work from home. According to an article by Stanford University, nearly 42% of US workers are working from home, an impressive increase from just 20% in early 2020. With all of these employees with vastly different experiences at work due to the pandemic, it will take a lot of time to adjust, but many companies will find what works for them.  

Life after the pandemic will look different, but many things will also remain the same. Employees will still be expected to meet quarterly goals, make their morning meetings, and meet their required job functions. Whether they do this in a four-by-four cubicle or from their apartment bedroom, is up to companies. Lastly, it is important to note that the decision does ultimately lie with the company, not the employees. Companies can make the call on whether they feel is it appropriate to return to the office, and employees must prepare for life after a pandemic.  

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Looks Different

Returning to work does not only affect employees and employers but those around them as well. People who moved back in with their families in order to save money on expenses will again have to move back closer to their jobs, and coworkers who have never seen each other in real life will meet. Going back to the office affects companies, employees, and families, especially with school-aged children.

While money is important, some people may desire remote work and hybrid more than anything. Experiencing the pandemic has allowed people to reveal what matters the most and how to find balance in the best way possible.

Diversity Training

We know the workplace looks different. Here at Line25Consulting, we specialize in meeting your diversity and inclusion needs whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid. We are here to help you foster a workplace that nurtures belonging for all of your employees. For more information, visit our inclusive marketing services to see what fits your needs. Afterward, fill out our contact form or give us a call at (713)298-5851.