I don't want to do "DEI Work" at work

[Anonymous]

Op is undoubtedly a middle aged white Republican

[Anonymous]

Op trolling lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

White supremacy culture. Perfectionism, punctuality, etc. These are all standards for the workplace created by whites that contribute to harming minorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

Are you a member of a marginalized group, OP? I think the goal is to ensure that no one has to deal with (to take a few random examples from my workplace experiences over the years) referring to building a robust UI as making it "grandma proof" or casual transphobia or the use of slurs to refer to Saudi Arabians.

That being said, my limited experience with DEI sessions is that they don't actually help with this goal? I don't have a lot of personal experience (my workplace doesn't do them) but as someone who's a member of an invisible minority (queer), I don't actually want to talk to my work colleagues about my sexuality and to be asked to do so would make me deeply uncomfortable.

No one asks for that. That's now how it works.
As for OP, ok; got it! You don't want to do that work; that is fine. Apparently your job has decided they want you to do that work, so you can choose to stay or not. I mean, there's a lot of work at my job (unrelated to DEI) that I don't want to do. In fact, there's enough that I don't want to do that I require payment to even show up. That's why they call it a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

Are you a member of a marginalized group, OP? I think the goal is to ensure that no one has to deal with (to take a few random examples from my workplace experiences over the years) referring to building a robust UI as making it "grandma proof" or casual transphobia or the use of slurs to refer to Saudi Arabians.

That being said, my limited experience with DEI sessions is that they don't actually help with this goal? I don't have a lot of personal experience (my workplace doesn't do them) but as someone who's a member of an invisible minority (queer), I don't actually want to talk to my work colleagues about my sexuality and to be asked to do so would make me deeply uncomfortable.

No one asks for that. That's now how it works.
As for OP, ok; got it! You don't want to do that work; that is fine. Apparently your job has decided they want you to do that work, so you can choose to stay or not. I mean, there's a lot of work at my job (unrelated to DEI) that I don't want to do. In fact, there's enough that I don't want to do that I require payment to even show up. That's why they call it a job.

To clarify, no one asks that you disclose your sexuality to your colleagues against your will. It's not a coming out session, FFS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

If you are white and straight (or perceived of as such) you actually, truly have no idea what your colleagues that don’t present like you deal with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because having a diverse and equitable workforce IS good for the bottom line and will ultimately result in a better workplace and product for your clients.

Also and most importantly but I don't think will sway you, people deserve to work in places that are fair and equitable. And for the most place they don't. So, places are trying to change that as they should. Ultimately if it works, it's better for everyone.

I agree that having a diverse and equitable workforce is good. We have a very diverse staff, and people are treated pretty fairly overall. That's not what I'm referring to. Our company is having external facilitators come in and force us to have awkward and uncomfortable conversations with probing questions that I truly don't feel comfortable sharing with my colleagues. I don't want to share "the moment that I felt discriminated against" or "the moment I did something discriminatory to someone else" or "my family background and structure". None of these things contribute to me doing my job well.

IME the valuable DEI work is in ensuring equitable process through hiring, promotions, recognition, etc, ensuring accessibility for workers and clients, ensuring there are rigorous and published processes for addressing complaints, and creating work environments that solicit and respect input from all stakeholders (avoiding cliques, direct tasking of "pets", etc). All of those are harder on management than creating mandatory training to make people talk about their feelings. If you're in a company where all of the DEI work is this type of training, then IMHO the company leadership isn't actually taking DEI seriously.

[Anonymous]

This thread illustrates the problem in America. I work with all men. They constantly made fun of anti-harassment training and DEI work. I was the only woman in the office. They needed it more than anybody! The goal of DEI will never be achieved because the message falls on deaf ears. It’s sad because they’re horrible coworkers.

[Anonymous]

How can workplaces make things more equitable for those who don't value punctuality? Genuinely curious what thoughts others have about this sort of thing.

Meeting starts at 9 am and if I am a member of a certain group, there is more leeway and understanding?

I realize that some cultures don't conceptualize time in certain ways that have been set up by our dominant systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

White supremacy culture. Perfectionism, punctuality, etc. These are all standards for the workplace created by whites that contribute to harming minorities.

Punctuality? because every white person has a chauffeur and limo or pent house next door and all POCs are taking 6 buses, right? 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for a smallish company (40 or so people) and my company decided we need to begin a DEI learning journey. Now, I understand that everyone has their own priorities in this type of work and also that it's a very personal thing. Why is my company, whose work/clients are not related to DEI (we work in consulting), forcing this on us as a staff? I just want to focus on my work, support my clients/projects, and not have to do all this other stuff that will add hours to the already too short work days.

Why is this a part of our workplace? What if I don't want to have these conversations with my coworkers. I don't want them to know my racial/cultural backgrounds and how I feel about certain issues.

Anyone else dealing with this? It feels forced and uncomfortable.

Are you another white person who is tired of all this race talk already? Do you tell people you don’t see color? Do you think we already live in a post-racial society?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

That’s just your perspective. They may not share it.

Cognitive dissonance is hard. But it’s ultimately good for you.

Don’t make the mistake of internalizing the discussion and get defensive

[Anonymous]

DEI is a hot topic lately but it should have always been incorportated.

You suck, OP for not being on board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s uncomfortable, a distraction, and unpleasant. Which is exactly how your non-white/gay/whatever colleagues may well feel about the crap that they deal with every day in the workplace.

But truly, what?? People are treated as people at my workplace. They don't deal with any crap that's different from the rest of us.

Are you a member of a marginalized group, OP? I think the goal is to ensure that no one has to deal with (to take a few random examples from my workplace experiences over the years) referring to building a robust UI as making it "grandma proof" or casual transphobia or the use of slurs to refer to Saudi Arabians.

That being said, my limited experience with DEI sessions is that they don't actually help with this goal? I don't have a lot of personal experience (my workplace doesn't do them) but as someone who's a member of an invisible minority (queer), I don't actually want to talk to my work colleagues about my sexuality and to be asked to do so would make me deeply uncomfortable.

No one asks for that. That's now how it works.
As for OP, ok; got it! You don't want to do that work; that is fine. Apparently your job has decided they want you to do that work, so you can choose to stay or not. I mean, there's a lot of work at my job (unrelated to DEI) that I don't want to do. In fact, there's enough that I don't want to do that I require payment to even show up. That's why they call it a job.

To clarify, no one asks that you disclose your sexuality to your colleagues against your will. It's not a coming out session, FFS.

I’ve been in meetings like this for work where coworkers introduce themselves by name, pronouns, sexuality, and which tribal people their house was stolen from. Then it gets to me and I’m like “hi, I’m Larla from accounting.” Awkward. Also the privilege game where you’re supposed to line up and take a step for each privilege you have. Like ok, yes my parents are married, no I’ve never gone to be d hungry, but do I really need to answer about if I own a house or have received an inheritance in front of my coworkers? I understand and support the intent, but these sessions can get really invasive and I don’t know most of these people like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There has always been corporate bullsh!t to deal with. This is the new fad. Just smile and nod and let it wash over you.

I hear you, this just hits differently from the "management trainings" that we had to deal with. At least those didn't feel uncomfortable.

Have you ever considered that your discomfort with this is exactly why you need the training?