Now that awards season is over, you’re likely familiar with the titles of and possibly the actors who stared in the nominated and winning films. “Hidden Figures” , a film based on the true story of three African American Mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race, was one such film. “Fences” , the big screen version of the 1987, Pulitzer Prize winning play by ... Read Full Article
Is My Bias Showing? (Moving from Woke-ish to Woke)
That part of my career spent in HR has been filled with new learning about people. All kinds of people. One thing I have come to learn is that there is a huge difference between understanding something about another person's experience and feeling what they feel. I can't know how they feel about certain things because I am not them. I do not have the experiences that they have ... Read Full Article
Fine, Be a Bigot
It's not often our parents suggest we are anything less than authentic but from time to time back in my teenage years, my mom would tell me, "Heather, you may be the devil's spawn but for God's sake, quit acting like it!" She was, of course, suggesting that I present a kinder, more gentler me. Perhaps she hoped if I acted like a nicer person, I would eventually become one. I ... Read Full Article
Diversity Double Dutch, Jump In
At the close of 2014 I wrote a reflective piece about how one of my childhood dreams inspired me take the annual performance review seriously. As a child, I longed for the ability to jump Double Dutch with such precision and expertise that I could remake Frankie Smith’s “Double Dutch Bus” and embark on the first worldwide jump-rap concert tour. Despite my mother’s, sister’s, ... Read Full Article
Diversity and Inclusion – Time For HR To Step Up Its Game
With all the emphasis on fake news recently, it is good to see that when someone posts something that doesn't sound quite right, someone else does the research and adds information to the post. I ran into this last week when someone posted something from 2013 regarding Barilla pasta, and it was quickly researched and updated. The short story - the Barilla CEO stated, in 2013, ... Read Full Article
Legislation to Protect Unearned Privilege by Tim Gardner
As I write this today, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has let it be known that he is vetoing the proposed "Free Exercise Protection Act", House Bill 757. The "protection" part of the act was to protect faith-based groups who refused to provide social, educational or charitable services that violate their religious beliefs. Oh, and they could avoid hiring someone whose religious ... Read Full Article
In Recruiting: What’s in a Name?
When Juliet asked, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” she was obviously drunk with the naivety of young love. If all names smelled equally “as sweet” then we wouldn’t spend time researching, choosing, and safeguarding (so no one steals it) the “perfect” names for our children. There would be no naming ceremonies, selecting of ... Read Full Article
Inspiring Achievements of Black Americans
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association of the Study of Negro Life and History, created Negro History Week in 1926 as an initiative to bring attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. Because it coincided with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, the second week in February was designated Negro History Week. This ... Read Full Article