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Is this for real?
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Is something actually happening as a result of these town halls (ideas are brought up and addressed)? People will disengage if they don't see change.
You could also consider an employee survey to make sure you're covering the topics people want to hear about
Good questions… maybe it’s the cadence also-
Maybe try semi-annual town halls vs quarterly?
Or offer three per year with two focused on learning/discussion/issues identification and a year end one on sharing annual progress/outcomes?
I think many people are fed up with DEI unfortunately. Identity politics is in everyone’s face all the time and has turned it sour.
I think most people genuinely appreciate diversity in the workplace, and the heart of what DEI is supposed to do is good. In many ways, I think the goals of DEI have been achieved.
Attitudes around and within the DEI movement have shifted though. It is no longer about acceptance and positivity but instead about putting down those perceived as part of any historically oppressive group. The posts I see in this bowl for example, while many are thoughtful, there is also much vitriol towards white men, it’s palpable. You’re not going to get people to attend meetings talking about how terrible they are when the majority of them have not personally done anything wrong… they just have the wrong skin color and body parts. It’s very ironic.
You’ll have a hard time getting attendance back up while this is the case, or at least perceived to be the case.
What kind of topics are you discussing at these town halls?
It is a sensitive topic as non poc could consider it as a security to their jobs.
You need to balance education, change, and reassurance effort. You want to create allyship and not alienation.
This sounds suspiciously like replacement theory…yuck.
What are you doing in the new quarterly meetings that is different than the initial meetings? Are topics different? What progress have you made? Do people that joined the first meeting (no matter what the demographic) see any reason to continue to join? Please remember that most people are not as passionate about this as we are. What is in it for the more causal resource that wants to be an ally?
Stop with the dedicated town halls and start incorporating them into existing practice teams' all hands....quarterly
Surveys are helpful. Pre and post feedback.
Pro
As has been pointed out in this already, what goals have you set and how are you all performing against them is something we need to know. DEI will struggle unless the top execs are behind beating the drum beat as well. Otherwise, it’s simply window dressing (which is all to common in this sphere).