(2) Diversity Questions to Answer With (4) Peer Reviews

Answer Question

Week Discussion

There are countless cases of discriminatory practices within organizations that privilege employees on the basis of race or gender.

Research such a case and present some of the pertinent details, then on the basis on our weekly readings and your research, describe how you'd attempt to rewrite the organization's rules in order to emphasize the need for diversity and fairness.

Peer Review 1:

DAlfonso:

According to the SF chronicle, UBER has recently agreed to pay 10 million dollars. This discrimination lawsuit stated that UBER, “discriminated against minorities and women who worked for the company. The lawsuit was filed in October and represents 420 women and people of color who were employed by Uber as software engineers going back to 2013” (Locklear, 2018). According to making change internally, the company has stated that it has, “implemented a new salary and equity structure based on the market, overhauled our performance review process, published our first Diversity & Inclusion report and created and delivered diversity and leadership trainings to thousands of employees globally” (Locklear, 2018). Although it does not go into detail, I believe this is progress for those who work at UBER. As someone who works for a government agency, I’m constantly being trained on dealing with clients from all different backgrounds. If it were up to me, I would definitely implement policy that would test the integrity of the hiring process. This means yearly trainings in Uber. This implies a salary structure that compares and contrast minorities, to those who make the most within same position. A structure that promotes diversities at all levels. I would also have an independent party that analyzes fairness within company structure. This would mean evaluating different backgrounds and their obstacles that impede their growth within the company, while offering services that help them. For example, many companies offer daycare, education, transportation, insurance, and other services that are essential to the growth of their employees. One could also hope that their complaints are handled accordingly, as not everyone has the same accumulative advantage in life.

Locklear, M. (2018). Uber agrees to pay $10 million in discrimination lawsuit settlement. Retrieved from https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/27/uber-to-pay-10-million-discrimination-lawsuit-settlement/.

Peer Review 2:

Maghann:

Most of you are probably familiar with the famous actor Gabrielle Union. Recently, she was involved in some controversy concerning discrimination of racial culture. Union was one of the host on America’s Got Talent (AGT), which airs on NBC, which is on its 14th season. Recent news states that Union was fired and will not be returning to the show for reasons of a hostile working environment revolving around culture. According to the Esquire magazine, in an article by Adrienne Westenfeld, she stated that, “Union received racist criticism about her hair, with the show complaining six times that her hairstyles were “too black” for AGT’s audience.” The next question is how are hairstyles too black? Because black women commonly wear braids? Or because black girls have curly and puffy hair? However you feel the need to answer that question, it is cultural insensitive and completely inappropriate way of thinking. It was also stated in reports that Union had complained multiple times about incidents of racism and insensitivity to others. In return the same reports stated that Simon Cowell (another host, and owner of the show) said Union was “difficult” to work with. Cowell and NBC should have done better and been more respectfully to Union’s concerns. If that were the case maybe it would not have even reached the lengths and the publicity that it has. They would probably benefit from holding diversity training annually or biannually to refresh themselves on what is and what is not appropriate in the workplace and to understand what is discourteous to other cultures. Doing things such as this will also assist in keeping other groups from feeling oppressed. I am proud of Union for standing up and being an example to be strong enough to say something instead of turning her and pretending those things that bothered her didn’t happened. It takes one person with courage to make a change.

 

References:

Today News, Gabrielle Union’s Exit From ‘America’s Got Talent’ Stirs Controversy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdjM0hQBWSk

Westenfeld, Adrienne. “The Full Story Behind Gabrielle Union and Simon Cowell's 'America's Got Talent' Controversy.” Esquire, Esquire, 5 Dec. 2019, https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a30136377/gabrielle-union-fired-nbc-america-s-got-talent-simon-cowell-explained/.