Addressing Common Terms Rooted in Black Oppression

Black History Month is a time to celebrate and honor the significant contributions Black people have made to society. It’s an opportunity to recognize the injustices that Black people have faced throughout history and to commit to creating a more equitable and inclusive future. What better place to start than the workplace? Problematic words and…

ramadan

Ramadan: How to Support Your Muslim Employees

It’s that wonderful time of year again! No, not Thanksgiving or Christmas. The holy month of Ramadan begins March 23, 2023 and ends May April 22, 2023. Muslims worldwide observe 30 days of fasting from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and water, maintaining a pure mind, and dedicating oneself to prayer, God, and donating…

Ableism and Abelist Microaggressions

July is Disability Pride Month, per New York Mayor Bill Deblasio’s 2015 declaration. For employers, celebrating Disability Pride Month is about empowering people with disabilities, uplifting their voices, and educating non-disabled people about what it means to live with a disability. Ableism is one form of prejudice or marginalization that is often left unaddressed in…

A Better Way to Support LGBTQIA+ Employees

Over the past few years, we have seen an unprecedented outpouring of support and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community. This cannot be overstated, because this newfound support is genuinely without precedent. Save a few choice exceptions, human history has been remarkably cruel to people who do not conform to cissexual, heterosexual norms. Luckily that cannot…

pattern matching

Is Unconscious Bias Coloring Your First Impressions (and Stereotypes)?

Does a person’s appearance shape your initial interaction with them? Of course it does. Humans are hard-wired to figure past experiences into future interactions; this mechanism is the foundation behind your brain’s language processing power, logic and reasoning skills, and problem-solving abilities. “Pattern matching” is the cognitive process by which your brain connects current sensory…