Blog
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
Author: Erin Meyer Topics: Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, Industrial Psychology, Interpersonal Relations, Global Business Relations Summary “You have two eyes, two ears, one mouth, and you should use them accordingly.” When Erin Meyer received this advice from a collaborator early in her career as an international relations consultant, it resonated deeply with her. Meyer
Codeswitching and Masking: What’s the Difference?
The newly hired African American employee decided to interview with her hair straightened. She spoke in her most professional tone and bantered with the interviewer regarding her love of recreationally golfing on the weekends. The voice that she spoke in was not her normal voice, not in tone and not in word choice. She typically
Why Sharing Gender Pronouns in the Workplace Matters
Equality and acceptance are topics that arise when considering some of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. The topic of gender, specifically gender identity, is an area that we can work to understand to establish accurate communication. Gender identity does not equal gender expression. That means that who someone identifies as internally can be
This Chair Rocks
Author: Ashton Applewhite Topics: Ageism in America, Aging, Discrimination Summary “Aging is life itself, which is what makes it so damn interesting.” This Chair Rocks, Applewhite’s witty and compelling manifesto, strives to refocus our negative opinion of aging, debunking common fears and encouraging readers to celebrate aging. Ageism is defined as the “combination of prejudicial
December Celebrations and Culture
The calendar year is ending, but the multicultural learning opportunities are not. December ushers in a few well-known winter holidays, but are you familiar with their cultural significance? Hanukkah Hanukkah (Hebrew for dedication), also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday observed over eight days. This celebration commemorates the rededication of the
No Pity: People with Disabilities Forging a New Civil Rights Movement
Author: Joseph P. Shapiro Topics: Handicapped Civil Rights, Discrimination against the Handicapped, Government Policy, History of Individuals with Disabilities in the US Summary Anyone can face disability from a sudden accident or disease at any point. This frightening and humbling notion that we’re all “vulnerable to this misfortune” colors our attitude towards the disabled, even
November Celebrations and Culture
The holidays are upon us, but there is much more to celebrate in November than Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The year may be coming close to an end, but the opportunities for diversity and inclusion are abundant. Here are some options to increase your cultural competence. Native American Heritage Month This month serves as the
American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear
Author: Khaled A. Beydoun Topics: Islamophobia in the United States, Islam, and Politics in the United States Summary Islamophobia is a term uttered enough to be recognizable, but do we truly understand its scope? Do we understand the breadth of victims it affects across poverty, gender, legal status (often lack of), and race intersections? Islamophobia
October Celebrations and Culture
October may be best known for fall festivities such as Halloween, but there is also a multitude of noteworthy cultural celebrations. Let’s look at some opportunities to keep in mind amongst planning those pumpkin patch visits. Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2021 marked the first time that a U.S. president officially acknowledged Indigenous Peoples’ Day via proclamation.
Are People Just Too Busy?
What does it mean to “stop and smell the roses”? It means consciously directing your mind to be aware and attentive to the present moment to experience and enjoy more of the world surrounding you. But in today’s work culture, are people too busy for roses? In 2007, a renowned violinist Joshua Bell played 6
So You Want to Talk About Race
Author: Ijeoma Oluo Topics: Race Relations, Intercultural Communication, Ethnic Studies, African American Studies, Political Freedom & Security, Civil Rights Summary “I started writing out of frustration,” Oluo begins with searing honesty, a tone woven throughout the book So You Want To Talk About Race. She continues, “Frustration that there could be so many words to
In Defense of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial
Author: Mona Chollet Topics: Feminism, Sexism, Gender Equality, and Historical Mistreatment of Women Summary Conjure to mind the first witch you remember. Are you someone who envisions old hags with warts, green skin, and black pointy hats? Perhaps a wise woman in the woods with her beautiful garden of herbs and remedies? Or a quirky
September Celebrations and Culture
Fall is upon us and if you are lover of pumpkin, especially pumpkin spice lattes, your time is now! As we prepare to break out our favorite jeans and cozy sweaters, we also have several cultural opportunities to celebrate. Labor Day Labor Day is always the first Monday in September for the U.S. and
New 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
As of July 16, 2022, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has been revamped and launched as the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is designed to be easy to remember and provides trained mental health professionals to address not only thoughts of suicide, but any other mental health crises as
eLearning Experiencing Rapid Growth
The global spread of Covid-19 forced both the education and corporate sectors to transition to online learning and remote work to continue with operations while the world figured out how to cope with the pandemic. According to Research and Markets forecasts prior to the pandemic, the online education sector was estimated to grow to $350
August Celebrations and Culture
Traditionally August marks the end of summer. Families are squeezing in those last-minute vacations before the school year resumes and friends are capitalizing on the opportunity to spend evenings and weekends outside before the season changes. While there are no federal holidays this month, there are still several causes for celebration. There are even rumors
What is the “Stop WOKE Act”?
As of July 1, 2022, several laws took effect including the ‘Stop WOKE Act.’ What exactly is “woke”? What does it mean and why did Florida Governor DeSantis feel compelled to sign a bill into law to try to stop it? The law builds on the governor’s decision to ban Critical Race Theory (CRT) and
White Fragility: why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism
Author: Robin DiAngelo Topics: Racism, Race Relations, Whites Summary “White fragility?” some may ask, immediately guarded against the implications in the title of Robin DiAngelo’s book. With strength and patience drawn from her work as a consultant, trainer, and teacher of racial and social injustice, DiAngelo introduces us to the concept of white fragility or
The Economic Cost of Racism
It is estimated that the United States economy has lost $16 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) since 2000. Yes, trillion, with a “T.” What accounts for such a massive economic loss? Racism. According to a recent study conducted by Citigroup, “The analysis in the report that follows shows that if four key racial gaps
July Celebrations and Culture
Summer is in full swing, people are enjoying fun in the sun, family vacations and BBQs with friends. July presents the prime opportunity to get outside and bask in nature. Few cultural celebrations occur during this month, but there are a couple of notable celebratory opportunities. Independence Day One of America’s best-known celebrations is the
What Companies Can Do To Support Employees – Post Roe v. Wade Decision
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court announced their decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and some of Corporate America is taking an outspoken stance. Several companies have released statements in response to the court’s ruling to overturn federal abortion rights by reaffirming their commitment to helping employees secure health care services that may now
How to be an Antiracist
Author: Ibram X. Kendi Topics: Anti-Racism, Psychological Aspects of Racism, Race Relations Summary Ibram X.Kendi opens How to be an Antiracist with this quote, “this book is ultimately about the basic struggle we’re all in, the struggle to be fully human and to see that others are fully human.” Told through an autobiographical narrative, historical
Expanding Leave Benefits: Menstrual Leave
The taboo topic of menstruation is slowly making its way into the workplace. Spain’s government has taken on the task of drafting a law that would provide unlimited paid ”menstrual leave” from work. This leave is a part of more broad legislation addressing reproductive rights including the extension of abortion rights, eliminating the requirement for
Racism in American Sports
There has recently been a slew of headlines highlighting racism, harassment, and retaliation in one of America’s favorite sports, football. In November 2020, seven former University of Iowa players filed a lawsuit naming head coach Kirk Ferentz, Chris Doyle, and Brian Ferentz in claims alleging discrimination and harassment, failure to provide equal rights and
June Celebrations and Culture
June not only marks the beginning of Summer, but it also marks some significant cultural celebrations. Let’s discuss some diversity awareness opportunities for June. National Caribbean American Heritage Month According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, “In the 19th century, the U.S. attracted many Caribbean’s who excelled in various professions such as craftsmen, scholars,
Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women that a Movement Forgot
Author: Mikki Kendall Topics: Feminism, African American Women Social Conditions, USA Race Relations, Inequality Summary A fierce call to grow beyond “peak white feminism and into actual feminism” Mikki Kendall’s book Hood Feminism addresses how less time needs to be spent “demanding validation”, calling attention to what makes you a good feminist and what you’re
Why Aren’t There More Women in the C-Suite?
The glass ceiling that exists between women and C-suite positions may have cracks, but it certainly has not been shattered. Currently there are four times more men named John, Robert, William, or James than there are women CEOs of S.&P. 1500 firms. Four times! “The comprehensive report ’Women CEOs in America 2021’, presented by the
May Celebrations and Culture
In April, we took a deep dive into celebrations, specifically, cultural celebrations and why they are important to raising awareness and understanding of groups, cultures, and causes. If you missed it, you could find the post here. This month we will be further exploring some diversity awareness opportunities that are celebrated in May. The “why” behind
Enhance DEI Strategies with The Sleeper Group
The Sleeper Group (TSG) offers our clients access to our talented team of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals. We are your sought-after DEI experts. Our staff holds certifications from relevant institutions, such as the Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) and Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator(IDI QA). Because we are a recognized leader in this space,
Celebrations and Cultural Awareness
What comes to mind when you think of a celebration? A wedding, birthday party, Christmas or Hannukah? All these examples of special occasions bring people together for a unified cause. “Celebrations are about people sharing their joys and sorrows surrounding their ideals, beliefs, their experience and their history, and are often expressed in ways that
Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design
Author: Kat Holmes Topic(s): Inclusive Design, Technology & Business, Social Integration, Social Marginality Summary Inclusion is a rarely utilized resource for creativity and innovation. In Mismatch, Kat Holmes educates readers on how implementing inclusive practices can shape the future of design and celebrate human diversity. Beginning with the basic understanding that designing for inclusion starts
Backlash in Tech and Entertainment Sectors Due to Lack of Diversity & Inclusion
Let’s face it, the days of the “Good Ol’ Boys Club” are over, or are they? The Tech and Entertainment industries are learning slowly, but surely that discrimination and sexism must become a thing of the past. Activision Blizzard Entertainment (ABE), maker of video games such as “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft” recently
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Laws… What’s New?
New year, new requirements, new litigation. California was one of the first states to pass laws requiring publicly held companies headquartered in the state to include women and members of underrepresented communities on the corporate boards. The initial law, SB 826, passed in 2018, mandated the public companies incrementally increase the number of women on
2021 Recap
We cannot be more excited about all the amazing things that we will achieve in 2022, but first, please join us in reviewing some of our top 2021 accomplishments. The Sleeper Group (TSG) is excited about its continuous commitment to being a go to resource for passionate, knowledgeable, and grounded curriculum as it relates to
What is Inclusive Design and Why Does it Matter?
What is inclusive design? It is about designing for the needs of people despite ability, age, race, gender, culture, or any other difference. Inclusive design removes barriers and enables everyone to participate equally, confidently, and independently in daily activities. Have you ever watched a video clip on your mobile phone with the sound off? Do
Normalizing Workplace DEI Conversations
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) do not come easily. They require hard work and often uncomfortable conversations in order to make progress towards our goals and visions for inclusive workplaces. Below are some ways to ease that discomfort. Ask Intentional Questions Be intentional about what you ask. Examples of intentional questions can include: How can I support
Intentional Hiring
Focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of the hiring process is a great way to enhance DEI efforts within your organization. This focus is also known as inclusive hiring which aims to level the playing field with the goal of warding off bias in recruitment and avoiding discrimination. Let’s explore ways to incorporate DEI into your hiring practices.
Showcasing DEI In Job Descriptions
It’s important for companies to show how they incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion not only internally, but as part of their recruitment efforts. One clear way to do that is as part of job descriptions. There are several ways to show candidates that your company is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion: Thoughtful Use of
Is your resume review process widening the gap?
Two applicants come across your desk, one has the name Kareem Chatman and the other has the name Allison Bauer. What is your initial response to the applications? Are you automatically more intrigued by one versus the other? Systemic discrimination refers to patterns of behavior, policies or practices that are part of the structures of an organization,
What is The Great Resignation?
COVID-19 shifted how people viewed their careers and led many to consider changing paths. According to a recent survey, 25% to 40% of people are thinking about quitting their job. In December 2020, resignation rates for managers increased by 12% compared to the previous year. The Great Resignation was coined by Texas A & M
The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultants
You have great team that is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). They are committed to creating a sense of belonging at your organization. You may even have a Chief Diversity Officer, HR Director, or another staff member charged with carrying out your DEI initiatives. So, what role do external consultants play in your
Business Culture Transformation
We are in a time of business culture transformation. This push for change is largely driven by the public outcry resulting from police brutality and other racial disparities. Consequently, many communities are asking questions about business and government practices, demanding to know how they will modify their practices to root out inequality and systemic racism
Biden Revokes Order Banning Diversity Training
In January 2021, President Joe Biden reversed the administrative order of former President Donald Trump, which banned certain workplace diversity training. That ban restricted federal agencies, grantees and contractors from using curriculum that examined systemic racism, white privilege, race and gender bias issues. Administrative Order Causes Confusion and Concern The administrative order faced strong opposition
Consulting Group Launches with Focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
The Sleeper Group is a woman-owned, Maryland-based small business that is focused on providing services through a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to clients across the United States. Service Offerings The company’s current services are broken into four categories: Diversity & Inclusion Non-Profit Management eLearning Sustainability Many of these service categories are intertwined, and clients