How to Honor Juneteenth Through Organizational Culture and Employee Benefits
There are a variety of thoughtful ways to honor Juneteenth and foster inclusivity and authenticity in the workplace.
Monday is Juneteenth, a celebration of Black liberation and freedom. It’s also a time to highlight Black culture and achievements.
Juneteenth dates back to 1865 when the Civil War came to a close on June 19. Two and a half years after President Lincoln pushed the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery. Just last year, however, the nation celebrated Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
The Juneteenth holiday is an opportunity to reflect on the unique experiences of Black employees and consider more authentic approaches to promote inclusive cultures where people can bring their whole selves to work.
Make inclusivity training fun and accessible.
Though executives lead the way, it is everyone’s responsibility to make the workplace safe, respectful, and welcoming. It’s a win-win when employees can be their authentic selves, both business and people thrive. Productivity, wellbeing, retention: the ROI is undeniable.
Employers must educate and empower employees with a common language. Because we all come from different backgrounds, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) training establishes expectations around actions and attitudes.
At Businessolver, this includes book clubs and discussion corners to keep these values top priority. We also take time to discuss important cultural months throughout the year as part of our daily standup ritual and include additional learning activities through trivia sessions and e-learning experiences.
Infuse organizational values into policies and benefits offerings.
DEIB efforts are increasingly top priority for employees, especially since the pandemic-era political upheaval. Juneteenth is an important reminder for employers that marginalized groups, like Black employees, often face microaggressions, bias, and other obstacles in the workplace.
It’s essential that proclamations to promote diversity be backed up with real action and empathetic work culture. For Businessolver, this includes asking all Solvers to take a DEI pledge where they commit to being kind, speaking up and doing the work.
Empathy is critical to culture and business success, and the modern workforce wants employers to incorporate their vision and values into their benefits strategy. For example, organizations that value philanthropy can offer paid time off specifically for employees to give back to their community. There is no one-size fits all solution to illustrate true commitment to DEIB, so get creative and consistent.
Additionally, Voluntary benefits are an unexpected equity tool. Offering a wide range of voluntary benefits helps organizations live their creed on a benefits level by allowing employees to choose the options that are best for their unique situation.
Continue the DEIB conversation year-round.
Juneteenth is only one day out of the year, but Black employees deserve to feel they belong at work each and every day. These important issues are constantly evolving and so must employers’ strategies to advance inclusivity and authenticity in their organization.
Nothing compares to real feedback from real people. Surveying employees will bring to light the most meaningful changes for them. And don’t forget how critical it is to simply recognize the moment.
Julie Stitch, Vice President of Content at the International Foundation of Employee Benefits notes, “Recognizing Juneteenth, the day that commemorates when the last enslaved people in the U.S. received news of their freedom under law, is one way employers can recognize their employees who have shared that history.”
To honor another’s history, we must first understand it. Let Juneteenth be a catalyst for authentic conversation and DEIB commitment for the months to come.
To learn more about how empathy in the workplace delivers a sense of belonging, check out our empathy resources: www.businessolver.com/empathy.
