How to Speak to your Employer about Social Injustice

The murder of Geroge Floyd, by police, on May 25th, 2020, acted as a huge catalyst for a social movement. An ‘enough is enough’ reaction, that caused many of us to sign petitions, speak out against the racism toward Black people, and protest for Black lives. Find resources/petitions here.

The fact that we were all confined to our homes meant that many of us couldn’t look away. The footage of the murder, through its blatant cruelty and easy access, was seen by millions of people who were now confronted with the reality of what it means to be Black.

Now, some of us are finding ourselves balance educating ourselves/ others, taking action, practicing self-care, and going to/ doing work. Perhaps you are considering addressing issues of race, inequality, or discrimination at your work/school. This is what this article is all about.

Before I wrote this article and spoke to my boss, I consulted with a few loved ones. Who, lovingly, got back to me saying things like ‘you NEVER speak to your boss about politics’ or ‘this could have implications for your career’ or ‘they will treat you differently after you say something’. These are all things that could very much be true and were said with pure intentions.

However, I ended up speaking to my boss about it. I ended up speaking to many people at my work about it. I spoke to HR, I spoke to colleagues (close and not), I spoke to my bosses boss and had many meetings. While I am happy I did, there are a few tips I have for you if you are thinking about speaking to your superiors about social justice. Here they go:

1. Be specific

When speaking about issues of injustice or discrimination at work, you should be specific about what you mean. Don’t allow there to be too much room for interpretation or assumption (because there likely will be, if you don’t). Also, there may be a chance that you won’t be understood if you are not specific (which initially happened in my case). This also means that there is more scope for accountability and action-taking. Rather than saying ‘I’d like you to do something about inequality in the office’, you can say ‘I’d like to address the racial discrimination against Black people at work’. This is clear, the problem is clearly identified and there is a strong foundation for action.

2. Have a plan

I’d recommend having an idea of what you are going to say. Have the issue prepared, with some evidence (if you are comfortable), and some recommendations/ actionable points. Other than that, be honest, clear, and hopeful. Things must change.

3. Have recommendations & evidence

Like I said in point 2, it’s important to be prepared. I want to draw specific emphasis on having recommendations and/ or evidence ready before your meeting. Your employer or boss will likely enquire as to what you are basing your point on and wonder what they should do about it (they should provide some solutions as well of course - but who knows if they will…). If you have both these ready, you will have a higher chance of coming away from that discussion with some actionable points. It also allows your boss to react a little quicker because they know what to pass on.

4. Check your mindset/ calculate your risk

It’s important to assess whether you believe you will face any consequences bringing this up, and what those consequences will mean for you. Are these risks you’re willing to take? Do you have a safety net? What do the outcomes of these discussions mean to you? Why are you doing it?

As sad as it sounds, it’s important to align with yourself before doing this because there are risks. Understand the risk you could be taking, and any precautions you may have to take to protect yourself. Whether that is transcribing the entire conversation (which I recommend), alerting some other team/non-team members that you will be having this conversation, and understanding your contractual agreements. We would hope that a conversation like this wouldn’t/shouldn’t have any major negative consequences on you or your career but there is a possibility that they can, and you need to be open to that.

5. Be generous with yourself

This is a big step.

This is your journey. I am not encouraging you to do so or not. This is my experience and my advice. This is a difficult subject, with many nuances and potential risks attached. This is a marathon and not a race, and every little helps. How I fight for justice, does not have to be how you or anyone else fights for it. We will have those who protest, those who sign petitions, those who create materials and educate others, those who run for office to implement the social change, those who fund advocacy, and those who address social injustice with their employer. Everyone does their part, and our parts do not all have to be the same.