Navigating Social Justice at Work

Historically, the prevailing belief on the role of social justice in the workplace has been that Jobs Should Be About Completing Tasks, Not Social Justice. However, the reality is that companies need not choose between social justice and their bottom lines. There is a moral case, a legal case, and to a lesser extent, a business case for promoting social justice in the workplace.

• • Business Case: According to the Harvard Business Review, teams with inclusive leaders are more likely to be high performing and collaborative. Although there are several positive business outcomes that can be influenced by adopting a social justice lens, the business case is incomplete. In fact, the business case enforces a “checklist and compliance” mentality for many corporations and also provokes people to focus more on economic than equality-based metrics of success. Indeed, business-case language makes people feel “othered” and devalued. It can also lead people to reduce support for inclusion if the economic payoff isn’t profitable.

  • Moral Case: Mitigating bias must be essential to our norms, our culture, our goals, and be mission-critical in order to have sustainable impact. Addressing structural barriers is key; when we create an environment where everyone can bring their full authentic selves, we all benefit and are uplifted. Each person has value to contribute. We advance social justice because it’s the right thing to do.

  • Legal Case: The rationale for advancing social justice is also grounded in anti-discrimination law – there is a shared legal consensus on discriminatory behavior being wrong. The 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, and other protected identities. The primary goal is to integrate the workforce and eliminate arbitrary bias against minorities and other groups. ​

We encourage you to empower yourselves and your colleagues through community and self-care, and as such, we acknowledge the mental toll that social injustice levies in employees. Below are a few resources and tools to support you as we navigate the current circumstances as individuals and as leaders, together.

Tools for Managing Overwork, Burnout, and Self-Care

• You are not powerless in the face of uncertainty

• Scientifically Improved Ways to Reduce Feelings of Being Overwhelmed in the Workplace

• Six Ways to Weave Self-Care into Your Workday

We recognize that many in our community are hurting, especially people of color. We hear you. We see you. We share your pain. We are here for you.

Sincerely,

Marlette and Erin