UNIQLO’s Post

❓ What is rainbow washing? In many American localities (and digital media), Pride Month is an explosively colorful time of the year. Hosts of Pride flags and rainbow decor seem to appear overnight in preparation for June 1. Businesses are also quick to demonstrate their support for the holiday. Everything from shampoo to tennis shoes gets a month-long repackaging in Pride flag paraphernalia. An outside observer may initially be moved by these outward displays of solidarity with the LGBTQIA community. However, a closer inspection reveals something different. For many organizations, the rainbow packaging is simply a veneer of support used to sidestep responsibility for fostering LGBTQIA inclusion. This “rainbow washing” allows businesses to say they value inclusion without having to address the systemic barriers that stand in the way of that inclusion. In its mildest form, rainbow washing is a marketing ploy that appropriates Pride imagery to sell products without providing tangible support for LGBTQIA individuals. In worse manifestations, businesses may even sell Pride merchandise while actively supporting anti-LGBTQIA organizations. How to avoid rainbow washing: 1. Go beyond meaningless token gestures 2. Donate to and volunteer with pro-LGBTQIA causes 3. Elevate LGBTQIA voices 4. Champion a culture of inclusion and belonging 5. Acknowledge LGBTQIA history (the good and the bad) You can read the full article at this link (paywall): https://lnkd.in/eAMyMSSg.

LinkedIn is a space where we strive to understand and respect each other. Do you agree? Well, there is a massive amount of disrespect, with accompanying violence, against Jews. Yes, even in the United States. You might not see it. But it's there. In the past few years, massive efforts have been launched to make us aware of how we use language. Much of it has been focused on communities of color. This is wonderful. However, there is language and there are stereotypes that refer to Jews, too. Lately, antisemitic threats and violence have risen nearly 400%. It's in the U.S. It's in Canada. It's in Europe. A friend shared with me yesterday that a friend of hers made a comment that related money to Jews. I won't repeat it, because I don't want to encourage its use. But I have had many experiences like this as well, and mostly, I've tried to get past them. But I'm done. I've never tolerated this kind of behavior toward any culture or community. But now I'm coming out publicly to ask you to pay attention to what's happening to the Jews and take action. Here's how you can do this: I join the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in calling on all workplaces to update their policies, procedures, and practices to address antisemitism at work and in society. Workplaces should heed the call of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism by incorporating antisemitism in DEI efforts, updating religious accommodations, and supporting the development of Jewish employee groups in corporate, non-profit, and government workplaces. As demonstrated by the Shine A Light campaign, workplaces are beginning to recognize the need to address antisemitism, and we ask them to take this pledge. The ADL also has modules that you can access and use for training for yourself and your colleagues. And I have to mention, too, that this organization takes donations. It's been running a matching-gift campaign, and I contributed last night. If you feel inclined, join me! Together, we can continue to fight hate. #shinealight #fightantisemitism #buildcommunity

🏳️🌈 It’s Pride Month! 🏳️🌈 Which means brands are adding rainbows and LGBTQIA flags to their branding. Should your brand do this too? Yes and no! It depends why you’re doing it. Successful brands are authentic and honest. ❌ Virtue signalling by adding a rainbow to your branding but doing nothing to support or celebrate LGBTQIA people is only going to damage your brand. ❌ It just looks fake and insincere! So… not just because you think it’s ‘in’ like Laszlo from What We Do In the Shadows! On the other hand, if you support people under the LGBTQIA umbrella by doing things like: 🌟 calling out discrimination all year around, 🌟 standing your ground if you face a backlash against Pride style branding, 🌟 show your allyship by creating a space for LGBTQIA voices, 🌟 ensuring there are equal opportunities in your organisation with solid business practices, 🌟 donating to reputable charities, you could highlight this by adding a rainbow to your branding this month. 🏳️🌈 Raising awareness and showing support, through rainbow branding, is a good thing if it is genuine and backed up with positive action. 🏳️🌈 💬 Are you an ally or LGBTQIA yourself? How do you feel about Pride branding? Let us know in the comments below. #pridemonth #pride #branding #strategy #CEO #director #management #founder

🌈 It’s Pride month! We know that you know that Pride was started by the Stonewall Riots in 1969. So don't just join the rainbow-washing brigade this year... Instead, here are three things you can do to commit to equitable change for LGBTQIA communities in your workplaces and beyond. 1️⃣ Educate yourself and your employees about LGBTQIA communities and the struggles they may face, especially in the run-up to the election. This means using your initiative and the tools you have at your disposal (like the internet!), not relying on your LGBTQIA friends and colleagues to fill in the gaps. 2️⃣ Have an honest look at your policies and practices. Do they really include LGBTQIA colleagues? How can they be built out further? Avoid comparing yourself to the industry standard here and reach for real equity. 3️⃣ Put your money where your mouth is! Can your company help an organisation that supports LGBTQIA communities? Rather than just changing your logo this year, why not donate time, skills, or funds to help these organisations accelerate their mission for LGBTQIA communities. Pride isn't a tick-box exercise to turn extra profits. It's a reminder of the work we still have to do to create equitable change as well as a celebration of our LGBTQIA friends, family, and colleagues. So how is your organisation celebrating Pride in June? And how would you like to see Pride celebrated in the future? Let us know in the comments 👇 Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash

*** The democratic right to protest and how people choose to use their volunteer days *** I had a super interesting conversation yesterday with an organisation that told me back in 2020 they had considered putting in place a policy that would give all employees a day off from work to attend a protest. In the end they didn't do it. But over the last 3 years they've been considering how they would have felt if an employee had attended a protest for a cause that the SLT didn't agree with. 🎇 Could they limit the policy to only allow people to attend certain protests? 🎇 Or seek approval first? They believe they've dodged a bullet by not implementing the policy. And they probably have, because limiting people in that way could be seen as contravening a person's right to: 🎇 Freedom of Assembly and Association 🎇 Maybe their right to Freedom of Expression too Or equally they could have been very bold and said they were allowing people to exercise their rights on company time. And that these rights should be respected, no matter which cause they support. Reading this you might think this is too tricky a subject for an organisation to touch. But, tbh, the risk already exists... Many companies give employees time off to volunteer at charities. 🎇🎇🎇 And if they choose to volunteer for a charitable cause you personally disagree with you can't justifiably do anything about it. As always with these sorts of situations it's essential to get legal advice before you implement any controversial/ground-breaking company policies. (Not that volunteer days are inherently controversial!) #BraveConversations #EDIisNotFluffy #inclusion #diversity #accountability #respect #compassion #HumanRights #RightToProtest #protest

Interesting post from Heeral Gudka 💡

This year we are beyond excited to welcome onboard a very special brand new partner for the Aurora Mirror Ball- LVMH ! 🪩✨ Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE or more commonly known as LVMH, are the world leader in luxury. We're talking Bulgari, Dior, Tiffany & Co., Veuve Clicquot, even the king of champagne Dom Pérignon! and so, so much more. In fact LVMH has a total of 75 Maisons, all being held to the highest level of quality and a set of shared values. LVMH's four fundamental values inspire excellence and are their pillars for long-terms success, including to ✨Be Committed to Positive Impact✨ This value not only entails ensuring sustainability throughout the entire ecosystem of their products, how they're made, and where they operate, but extends far beyond that Defending LGBTIQ rights and the "fight against all forms of discrimination, including based on sexual orientation and gender identity" is a long standing commitment of LVMH! "Since 2019, our Inclusion Index has listed over 190 LGBTI inclusion-focused initiatives led by our Maisons, aligned with their DNA, sector and geographies. " Aurora is extremely honoured to be partnered with LVMH for this year's Aurora Mirror Ball as we all work together to create more equitable opportunities for our LGBTIQ communities! There are ONLY 50 TICKETS LEFT for the Aurora Mirror Ball! Be sure to snap yours up today https://loom.ly/eKrpJYk [ID: a black graphic with silver foil boarders on the right and left side. A black and white photo at the top from Aurora Ball history, white text overlaid and the LVMH logo in the centre of the graphic]

I am proud to have shared the stage with fellow Points of Light board member Brenda Robinson at the national conference this week discussing the urgent need for volunteerism in our communities and how UPS is answering the call.    The UPS Foundation has partnered with Points of Light and its boots-on-the-ground affiliates for years to inspire, equip and mobilize people to create a more equitable and just world. Service is in UPS’s DNA, and we’re proud to leverage our resources, expertise, and passion to deliver 30 million volunteer hours by 2030 in communities globally.   This impact is more important now than ever. Volunteerism is on a decline when our world needs urgent help. Research suggests that volunteering is not only beneficial for communities and organizations, but also has positive effects on the wellbeing of the volunteers, creates connectedness and boosts civility.   That’s why The UPS Foundation is laser focused on making volunteer opportunities accessible to all our employees. I urge my fellow servant leaders in the business community to answer the call of countless non-profit organizations who need support from our workforce and to prioritize volunteerism as a key strategy that positively impacts employee engagement, retention, and customer service.    Thank you Points of Light for convening an impactful conference and and inspiring us to lead change together.