How NOT to Build An Inclusive Culture

Dear Basecamp and Coinbase,

I am here to share some unsolicited advice from your friendly neighborhood People leader.

You've probably read the multiple McKinsey & Company studies about how diverse teams perform better than homogenous ones.

Even if you haven't read them, you've probably heard that in order to hire - and retain - said diverse talent, you need to create an inclusive and equitable culture. This is the foundation of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

Quick facts:

1. Humans don't choose their natural skin color.
2. People of color don't stop being people of color when they clock in for work.
3. People of color are being killed at very high rates.
4. Employees are human beings.

Employees are not robots; they cannot simply "turn off" their identity to stop thinking about how people who look like them are being murdered. Every day.

Human brains cannot simply click a button to block thoughts of racial injustice, especially when so many experience injustice at work.

Your decision to ban social and political discussions at work is rooted in white privilege. Can you imagine showing up for work the day after your brother or sister has been murdered for the color of their skin and not being able to say a word about it?

You don't have to be a socially impactful or activist company to have an inclusive culture and care about the emotional wellbeing of your employees. You just have to remember they are humans.

#dei