Read the Room
This week Dr. Shaunna and Dr. Lisa cover the globe from California to Rome. Workplace policies, how the small steps can still have a profound impact, and what it means to have the space to self-identify your race rather than be given only a few mismatched categories on the Census.
Word of the Week [1:40]: Dr. Lisa and Dr. Shaunna use professional "language" that may not be mainstream verbiage for folks not working regularly in DEI. The new segment - Word of the Week - will provide definitions to words you might hear on and off the podcast. First up is the highly politicized language of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
Phase 1 [5:30]: Dell Forcing Return to Work and Right to Disconnect Law: Dell is creating headaches in the workplace with its new employment categories of Hybrid and Remote. For those assigned the Hybrid category, they have to be in an "approved" office location for at least 39 days in a quarter - essentially three days a week. For those employees assigned to the Remote category, they will not be eligible for promotions or other changes within the company. Critics are pointing out the disparate impact of such a policy change on women, folks of color, and employees with disabilities. In addition to the return to work conundrums across the country, California may be the first state to pass a law mandating boundaries for "after-work hours" contact. The bill, if passed, will enable employees to legally disengage from work after official working hours without being penalized by their employer.
Phase 2 [19:30]: Race and Ethnicity Changes in the U.S. Census: Each time the census is released, there are changes to what and how data is collected. This time around, The Biden Administration has approved the addition of Middle Eastern and North African as a racial category. Folks with ancestry from this region were previously encouraged to identify as white, which does not accurately reflect their identities nor how they are read in U.S. culture. Additionally, Latinx and Hispanic have been added as racial categories -- previously listed only ethnicity leading many to feel confused about how to then respond to the racial identity questions.
Phase 3 [30:00]: Washing the Feet of Women: On Easter weekend, Pope Francis was photographed performing a foot washing ritual stemming from specific scripture in the Gospel of John, depicting Jesus the Christ washing his disciples feet before his crucifixion. The twist? Usually, the ritual has overwhelmingly included mostly men. This time, the Pope washes the feet of women only, who also are incarcerated in a Rome prison. Dr. Shaunna leads the discussion on the original symbolism and the profound significance of the inclusion of women who are largely forgotten in many religious traditions, including Catholicism.
Articles and Resources mentioned in the show:
New U.S. Census Racial Categories
