Holy smoke, would never have expected this from my husband's company in a million years!

[Pacifist Patriot]

My husband got this email yesterday evening. Given that his employer is owned by penny-pinching venture capitalists who take "operating lean" to absurd levels, I would never have guessed this would be their position. Gobsmacked, in fact. My husband was literally speechless when he showed it to me.

-----------

All,

We have been going through some unprecedented and trying times thus far this year – particularly the global pandemic of COVID-19 and more recently seeing the treatment and murder of George Floyd.

At (Company), while we try our best to support and act upon being an equal opportunity employer, we know that we have work to do. By recognizing this and creating an action plan, we hope, will help move the needle in the greater system racial injustices that do exist.

In efforts to support the changes, clean-up efforts, and those of you who are experiencing stress from these recent traumatic events, we want to support you in whatever way you may need. As such, please take note of the following:

You will not be required to take vacation/PTO, if you wish to participate in the following:

* Exercise your First Amendment rights of assembly/protesting during the work day.

While the First Amendment is a specific right in the US Constitution, we support those who wish to exercise that same right outside of the United States as well, without affecting their holiday/vacation balance.

* Participate in local clean-up efforts.

* Take time off to address any anxiety or stress that you may have related to these recent events.

(Company) provides a handful of resources, such as the Global Employee Wellness Programme in which you are able to connect with someone 24/7. For more information, please visit here.

These are times in which we need to stand together and provide as much support to each other as possible.

-----------

I know how much this policy can impact both direct and indirect costs for a company. Wow. Just wow.

[Cha]

1. Wow.. that is amazing! Good on them, PP!

[Magoo48]

3. Yes, wow indeed.

[AllTooEasy]

27. Why cover up the company's name?

Some folks may want to congratulate them directly, or do business with them.

[NurseJackie]

29. My best guess...

... is because it's just one piece of the puzzle that can be used to identify a poster who wishes to remain anonymous (ie: not have their id revealed, not be stalked, not be harassed).

This is the very reason that I have not identified my previous employers, my true city, my husband's employer, my son's employer or city, and no names ever! People know I drive "a truck" but they don't know what kind or year or color. I lie about my true age and nobody knows my birthday... all this because I'm paranoid.

[Pacifist Patriot]

33. Kind of, but really because...

I did not ask the sender or company leadership permission to share publicly what was sent as an internal memo.

I don't think they would care, and everyone knows that such emails are hardly private. They didn't request confidentiality so surely they had to know it would be shared.

I have been in positions that default to masking and confidentiality almost my whole professional life, so it is pretty much habit to be circumspect.

[NurseJackie]

35. I hear ya! That's a good habit to be in.

[Pacifist Patriot]

34. They are B2B...

In a niche market. This policy is unlikely to impact their business one way or the other. That is what make it all the more astounding to me.

[rickford66]

2. They see the handwriting on the wall.

[gratuitous]

5. Or they hear the squeak of the tumbrel wheels

[Wawannabe]

4. This is a big thing

For most any company to do. Whatever the co is they are in a league of their own right now or in a very small, teeny, tiny pool.

Time off without losing your job to grieve for the least of these? Wow. It's virtually unheard of.

[Pacifist Patriot]

6. And this is a company whose customers are other companies, not retail consumers.

Any positive PR from this would not gain them any new business.

[gademocrat7]

7. Good news.

I hope other companies will do the same.

[2naSalit]

8. If I was still working...

I'd want to be working for someone who handles their employees with the recognition that they are people rather than production elements... you know, respect and self esteem sort stuff.

[NJCher]

20. I used to do that in my corporate career

Among the many projects I got to head up:

--purchase works of art from the local community for restaurant walls. I was up against buying "packages" of art. Can you imagine? I convinced the company to dump that idea and patronize the local arts community--and best of all, I got to choose the art.

The local artists were dumbfounded that a major U.S. corporation would come in and buy their art and even moreso, display their works.

--write a regular monthly online magazine about the accomplishments/achievements of employees for a large pharmaceutical company. The accomplishments weren't all "professional"--they extended to community involvement. One of my favorite stories was about a woman who did cat rescue. I had access to on-staff professional photographers and artists to portray these stories. We also did video stories that were shown on the company's campus network. Other stories were about some of our medical researchers and doctors who were on federal advisory committees and a doctor who ran to raise money for research causes. There were so many stories and I have them all saved.

I could write more, but you get the idea. It was great to make a corporate salary and do this kind of work.

[Pacifist Patriot]

42. I would love that job!

[Rainbow Droid]

9. We call this "CYA" in the business world and this particular wave has barely begun.

Watch how hard people and organizations trip over each other to distance themselves from this roiling orange vomit storm.

[Javaman]

13. This! nt

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. True enough, but really surprised to see this from a B2B company.

Neither staying silent nor taking this stance would have likely had any impact on their ability to retain current customers or gain new ones.

[Rainbow Droid]

16. It's more about future liability, monetary and otherwise.

[AllaN01Bear]

10. eggscllent.

.

[obamanut2012]

11. Wow -- terrific!

[George II]

12. In 2001 I was working for a company that relied 100% on airline business (replacement components)...

After September 11, our business dropped about 60% immediately.

The top two guys called everyone in a meeting to tell us what they were going to do:

The both suspended their salaries until we got back to normal.
Instead of laying off 10% of the workers, everyone took a one-day furlough every two weeks

No one lost their jobs. About six months later when things got back to normal all of the experienced workers were still in their jobs, and we returned to business as usual.

No need to train new workers, and the attitude in the company was amazingly positive.

That's the way to do it!

[Pacifist Patriot]

15. That is definitely the way to do it!

[George II]

38. We went into the meeting really nervous. I was there three years, never a company-wide meeting...

(we were only about 50 people altogether) Everyone walked out relieved.

Your experience was even better, it is helping people outside the company, much more important. Good for them!

[Karadeniz]

37. Role model

[spanone]

17. ⭐️K&R⭐️

[FakeNoose]

18. Truly amazing and a wonder!

Perhaps the company owner (or executive board) has taken some kind of sensitivity training recently?

You know, all it would take is for one person to abuse this gift and they'll go right back to their penny-pinching days. So your husband needs to be careful. But still ... this is awesome!

[EffieBlack]

19. I've seen numerous companies step up like this

Many of them have black employees who are very openly expressing their pain. Fortunately a lot of companies are responding.

[hughee99]

21. I wonder if people's perception of this would be different

If the employees were taking the time to protest the lockdown like conservatives were just a few weeks ago.

[3Hotdogs]

22. Does he work for Bain Capital?

[JudyM]

23. New member of the executive team or board? Someone prevailed in the direction of employee focus!

Fantastic, hopefully this will spread. Happy for you two!

[uponit7771]

24. K&R,

Last edited Fri Jun 5, 2020, 08:11 PM - Edit history (1)

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Very Enlightened!

That must have been one very pleasant shock!

[marble falls]

26. Astounding. Is this outside of the states?

[Pacifist Patriot]

30. This is a US company with both domestic and global offices.

[marble falls]

36. Maybe we are on the cusp of a change. Thanks!

[cp]

28. Decent

[oasis]

31. I applaud your spouse's employer for moving the healing process forward.

[StarryNite]

32. Nice!

[raising2moredems]

39. While I commend his company...

as well as mine (another financial sector business), the bottom line is at peril. I am sad to say that George Floyd's death was the straw that broke the camel's back. A few male African-American co-workers (I don't know them) have shared their stories of being "black in America". I have been trying to figure out how I can ask my employer IF they are taking a long, hard look as to what party/candidates they financially support. Do those politicians support and espouse the values my employer does? If not, are they going to pull the financial plug? It does not matter how much money or time my employer pledges if they do NOT stop enabling those who are the problem.

Conversely, both sides need to change. The African-American side needs to stop believing <X> because "THEY don't won't more African-Americans". The non African-American side needs to stop saying <X>. Some of the hard conversations are over birth control. Teen mothers of any ethnic background who don't graduate high school don't help their children. It is commendable that companies pledge to hire more minorities. But these companies aren't likely to hire high school drop outs.

No simple answer to a complex problem. And it isn't going to be solved overnight. It will likely take years so we all need to stay focused and not let the racists win.

[Upthevibe]

40. Thank you so much for posting this....

Any and all of the stories that I hear about make me feel a little better....

[C Moon]

41. Maybe the smart Republicans are seeing Trump and the GOP as dust in the wind.

A new world is coming in November, under President Joe Biden and Vice President...