6 Steps to Address a Weak Workplace Response to the U.K. Riots

Following last week's UK riots, it has become evident where workplaces stand on their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) commitments, many of which were established during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. From what we’ve seen, some workplaces have delivered, some are making great progress, while others still have a long way to go—or worse, their promises were just empty words.

If your workplace's response to the UK riots was inadequate, here's how you can address it:

1. If your workplace has an employee resource group focused on race, discuss their response to the UK riots with your colleagues.  This involves any public statements shared, internal communications, and whether they issued any work-from-home guidance.

2. Review the DEI commitments and public statements issued since the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and ask how they are measuring success on these goals. 

3. Analyse the public/internal communications and explain why you thought it fell short. It's also beneficial to seek better examples from other businesses/competitors that handled it more effectively.

4. Consider issuing a signed ‘open letter’ expressing your concerns, signed by colleagues of colour who agree and allies at work.

5. Request a 1:1 or leadership meeting with the employee resource group to address it. Express that this is a listen-and-learn situation and encourage an open dialogue to understand better and address the concerns raised.

6. If they don’t make the time to meet with you or hear your concerns, it’s clear what their priorities are as a business. Their DEI commitments may have been nothing but empty promises, and unfortunately, it may be time to reassess your position with the company.

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Whether you require assistance crafting impactful communications or evaluating DEI commitments, Other Box can provide customised solutions to support you in advocating for meaningful change. Contact us today to learn how we can help you hold your workplace accountable and drive real progress.