Stop the Hate: Showing Up with Empathy

Acts of hate and discrimination affect entire communities, and employees may feel unsure how to respond when they occur. Silence can signal indifference, deepening the harm. This microlesson offers skills training to help employees show empathy, support inclusion, and stand against hate in the workplace. The crisis in the Middle East is causing emotional and passionate reactions everywhere, including amongst your employees. Arab and Jewish communities everywhere are grappling with profound trauma and fear as a result of the ongoing conflict, and unthinking and reactive employee statements are increasing that trauma and vulnerability. Leaders need to engage with their employees, address the Israel-Hamas War, and remind their workforce of its obligation for respectful communications. In addition to guidance, this lesson provides company leaders with insight into potential "hotspots" of hate speech within their organizations through the use of embedded pulsing questions.

Microlesson Description

This lesson is designed to provide employees with guidance regarding how they comment on or message about the events in the Middle East, and the affected communities. Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the workplace have increased dramatically since October 7th and this lesson provides guardrails so that employees do not further traumatize their co-workers with hateful messages.

Key Concepts

• Your Jewish and Muslim co-workers are feeling traumatized and vulnerable due to the war in the Middle East and the resulting Antisemitism and Islamophobia.
• It is crucial that we show up for those affected with empathy, compassion, and support.
• Be an upstander and ally for your co-workers and stop any bias or hate messages directed at vulnerable employees.