As we enter a new year, at Metis Global Consulting, we are pleased to introduce our new blog and LinkedIn Page. We invite you to be part of our community to learn and share best practice around diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
On Monday, May 26th, 2020 – the murder of George Floyd sparked global outrage and support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and an international call to address the systemic injustices experienced by Black people in the United States and around the world.
2021 must see us all striving toward greater inclusion, the reported negative impact of COVID 19 on ethnic minorities further highlights the disparities experienced by people of colour in relation to employment, particularly the types of roles Black staff are engaged to perform. Statistics from the UK government website tell us that Black managers make up only 5% of professional jobs compared to 11% for Asians and people with White ethnicity. Boardroom conversations must continue to shift as organisations acknowledge the need to focus in on their performance around Black inclusion .
Sainsbury's setting a good exampleChristmas adverts have a long tradition of featuring families enjoying the festive season, but very often the families are not representative of the reality of the melting pot in which we live and work in. Sainsbury's however, (the first ever for any brand that I am aware of), featured a Black family in their 2020 Christmas advert Gravy Song. When it was first aired, the advert received controversial feedback online, with some slamming the commercial for ‘not representing them’. Sainsbury's addressed the backlash saying, ‘We want to be the most inclusive retailer where colleagues love to work and customers love to shop,’. We applaud Sainsbury's for the Gravy Song commercial and for taking a stand against the backlash and recognising an opportunity to be part of the solution.
Will 2021 be the turning point for your organisation?Sainsbury’s is not the only positive example; many brands and advertising companies are casting more Black people in their commercials. The question then is, what stops organisations from achieving positive outcomes on Black specific recruitment and retention? Don't know where to start, in need of some guidance? Metis can help you navigate these topics and more in your workplace.
Who is Metis Global?More than just facilitators, we are subject matter specialist's offering diversity & inclusion consultancy, bespoke awareness sessions and critically friendly services. Our speciality is in the areas of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Contact our friendly team to see how we can support you in the critical steps to being part of the solution.
Website:
https://www.metisconsulting.co.uk/contactE-mail:
maxine@metisconsulting.co.ukContact number:
+44 7939 018 526
