5 programs making workplaces more inclusive

January 15, 2021 11:07 AM

The Civil Rights movement may have been more than 60 years ago, but George Floyd’s death — among many more racially-driven tragedies in 2020 — has made employers realize they still have a long way to go to create a fair and inclusive workplace.

Currently, less than 1% of CEOs and 3.2% of senior-level managers in the United States are Black, according to a survey by the Center for Talent Innovation. As more companies begin to understand how the careers of people of color are hindered by socio-economic barriers andinternal biases, they’re taking steps to rectify it.

Employers are working to support the advancement of people of color by providing professional development opportunities and working to eliminate unconscious bias in their workplaces. Many employers have taken strides to close hiring gaps, pledging tohire thousands more people of colorto their workforce over the next several years.

On MLK Day, it’s important to reflect on the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the work still needed to fully realize his dream. Scroll through to see five diversity-championing workplace programs:

Chipotle ramps up D&I initiatives with free tuition to historically black college

Chipotle employees can now earn a debt-free degree from one of the oldest historically black colleges in the nation: Paul Quinn College.

The college is the most recent addition to Chipotle’s debt-free degree college program, which launched last year. After 120 days of employment, Chipotle employees — including part-time restaurant workers — are eligible to earn an associate or bachelor's degree in 75 types of business or technology programs, at no cost to the employee.

Employers scrutinize diversity efforts as national protesters demand change

In a letter to employees, dealers and suppliers, automaker GM’s CEO Mary Barra announced that the company will be launching an inclusion advisory board, which she will head, aimed at making GM a more inclusive workplace.

Fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters immediately started diversity training with associates and had sessions with the company’s black employees to gauge what kind of support American Eagle should be offering.

“Silence is not going to work,” says Tammy Fennessy, director of benefits for American Eagle Outfitters. “We view silence as an acceptance of racism — it’s not helping the cause.”

Employers take actionable step on diversity with Juneteenth holiday

In the wake of civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, companies and states are officially recognizing Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery on June 19, 1865, and giving employees time off.

CEOs for Lyft, Square, Postmates and Vox Media took to Twitter to announce the move, joining employers like Target, the NFL and Nike. A Juneteenth initiative by Bay Area collective Hella Creative includes a growing list of more than 400 companies that have publicly committed to observing Juneteenth as a company holiday with time off.

11 free LinkedIn courses to combat racism in the workplace

Since the death of George Floyd, employers have been pledging to champion diversity. To help professionals live by that commitment, LinkedIn Learning is offering free classes on practicing allyship and antiracism within the workplace.

“Allyship is not a title you wear, it’s how you live and engage with others,” said Rosanna Durruthy, LinkedIn’s vice president of diversity, inclusion and belonging, in a live virtual discussion about the courses. “It requires ongoing work from all of us.”

The courses are taught by a diverse group of professionals who specialize in promoting inclusion. Among them is Netflix’s vice president of inclusion strategy, Vernā Myers. She teaches professionals how to identify their own implicit biases, and how to support diverse colleagues.

Merck and GM join group pledging 1 million Black hires in a decade

A new group that includes Merck, General Motors and Walmart is pledging $100 million in an effort to hire 1 million Black workers during the next decade, expanding on existing corporate vows to increase minority employment.

The OneTen initiative, co-chaired by Merck chief executive officer Ken Frazier and International Business Machines executive chairman Ginni Rometty, will focus on hiring and training Black workers without four-year college degrees, according to the plan released Thursday. The goal is to provide “family sustaining” jobs that pay an average of about $50,000 a year.