As I mentioned a bit ago, I’m looking for work. I’ve decided to go the consulting route for now. I’m about 50% billable as of today, and I have some leads on more work, so … I hope I can sort this out and make it viable.
For the last few weeks I’ve been going through job ads, and I noticed a couple things that were complete turn-offs. Two were particularly noteworthy: asking me to provide my pronouns, and an over-emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
When I saw those, I read it as “conservatives need not apply.”
Diversity, inclusion, and equity (DIE, as one wag called it) statements are practically mandatory for many companies now; frankly, the absence of them could probably be used against them in case of a lawsuit. “Most companies advertise how important diversity is to them.. but company X doesn’t. And they just *happened* to reject our client, who’s a member of four separate protected groups? I think we know what’s going on here, your honour.”
QUOTE: Two were particularly noteworthy: asking me to provide my pronouns, and an over-emphasis on diversity and inclusion. When I saw those, I read it as “conservatives need not apply.”
So, is this to suggest that conservatives should be opposed to diversity and inclusion? How much is too much…such that conservatives don’t get “triggered” by the employment process?
Conservatives should oppose some kinds of diversity, yes. The problem is that “diversity” is obviously shorthand. An accounting firm doesn’t want “diversity” in the sense of having engineers, lawyers, doctors, physical therapists and miners. They want unity around the concept of accountancy.
“Oh, but that’s not the kind of diversity we mean.”
Right, and that’s the problem. “Diversity” sounds so nice, until you realize what they do and don’t mean. They usually don’t mean diversity in religious or political views, for example. What they do mean is race, sex and “gender,” and the way they’ll measure success is by proportionate representation. (But only in cases where a preferred race, sex or gender is under-represented. If they’re over-represented, that’s fine.)
The false assumption of the diversity police is that disproportionate representation is evidence of bias, and that it’s a problem that needs to be solved.
There is a legit case to be made for certain kinds of diversity in some situations. But the way it’s played right now, most of the time, it’s just a leftist cudgel and a way to waste money on diversity officers.
QUOTE: “Diversity” sounds so nice, until you realize what they do and don’t mean. They usually don’t mean diversity in religious or political views, for example. What they do mean is race, sex and “gender,” and the way they’ll measure success is by proportionate representation.
How would you know this about a given organization from merely reading a job ad? Seems as if you’re the one that’s being biased in your views of what you think “every” organization means when they say they desire diversity and inclusion.
That said, there’s NOTHING wrong, illegal or immoral with race and gender being a “part” of the diversity mix and organizational objectives. It should NOT be excluded from what an organization desires to achieve…no matter how uncomfortable it makes some conservatives (especially given the obvious bias against some forms of diversity and inclusion by some conservatives).
The false assumption of the diversity police is that disproportionate representation is evidence of bias, and that it’s a problem that needs to be solved.
The problem is it’s NOT always a false assumption. In some cases there’s bias and others there’s not. So, the remedy is to review and determine which is which.
Just think of how unsettling it would be to read an add that indicated an explicit disinterest in diversity and inclusion.
Something like, for example, “we’re not interested in the color of your skin but the content of your character”?
“If you’re not white, we understand that the local shoeshiner is hiring.”
Something like, “we actively strive to develop a workforce that is rich in diverse experiences, capabilities, talent, cultures and perspectives…representative of consumers they serve and communities in which they are based. As well, a work environment that solicits and appreciates diverse contributions and utilizes them as a means to create value.”
That sounds pretty good.