“Governor Greg Abbott seeks to destroy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”
Governor of Texas Greg Abbott recently made headlines when it was revealed when a memo was released that detailed his plans to make Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices illegal in regards to the hiring process in the workplace.
Writer Kate McGee, in her article for The Texas Tribune, “Gov. Greg Abbott Tells State Agencies To Stop Considering Diversity In Hiring”, writes, “in a memo written Monday and obtained by The Texas Tribune, Abbott’s chief of staff Gardner Pate told agency leaders that using DEI policies violates federal and state employment laws, and hiring cannot be based on factors “other than merit… ‘the innocuous sounding notion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has been manipulated to push policies that expressly favor some demographic groups to the detriment of others,’ Pate wrote”.
DEI is a policy that, when put into practice, is designed to establish an environment of equal treatment for people of different backgrounds and persuasions. It is also designed to ensure that when these employees feel welcome and accepted, the quality of work will be at a high caliber. Diversity refers to individuals who may differ due to race, gender, sexual orientation, class, socioeconomic background, religion, ability, and age. Equity refers to the extent that workplaces are rid of any signs of implicit or explicit bias and policies and practices are fair and equal. Inclusion refers to the actions taken by the workplace or organization to establish a sense of ownership and belonging within the work environment.
Why does DEI matter? There are both quantitative and qualitative reasons for why DEI matters. According to a 2021 article from Forbes, “DEI efforts are incredibly important for retention. Highly inclusive companies are more likely to hit their financial target goals by up to 120%…the most diverse companies are more likely than ever to outperform financially. Other studies show that organizations with diverse leaders and employees innovate at a faster rate, as diversity of thought fuels new product development and generates opportunity for everyone.” Companies who yield strong DEI initiatives are more likely to have a healthy bottom line.
Moreover, the financial state of a business or organization can be further showcased by the perspectives of not only its diverse staff but also the clientele as well. Studies show the most recent generation groups: Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, are some of the most diverse groups of people, with the latter becoming the most diverse age group to date.
Andrea Rodriguez, in her 2023 article for Monster.com, “Gen Z: The Most Diverse Generation In The Workplace”, writes, “As one of the most populated generations, Gen Z is also considered the nation’s most diverse generation yet… Gen Z expects their employers to mirror their diversity. They hold employers to a high standard.An ideal Gen Z workplace is one that has a desire for employers to not only understand their employees’ needs for a diverse and inclusive workplace but the need to implement it in real-time.In a recent study by Monster, 83% of Gen Z individuals stated an employer’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is significant when choosing where to work. Another poll found 75% of people in Gen Z said they’d reconsider applying at a company if they weren’t satisfied with their diversity and inclusion efforts.”
Gov Greg Abbott’s actions are motivated by one variable and that is race. Over the past two decades, the population breakdown when it comes to race and ethnicity has become more minority based and this is becoming more prevalent in larger spaces such as the workplace. That is a frightening notion for those who fall in the White/Caucasian group. Abbott’s actions are motivated by fear and ignorance tactics as a way of controlling ascension of minority groups in the workplace, especially when it is a proven fact that largely minority leaders and teams outperform drastically against their counterparts on the basis of innovation, initiative, and work ethic.
Beyond the notion of race, it is unfair to not acknowledge the glass ceiling women and women of color still encounter in the workplace, with the pay gap still being approx. 65 – 77 cents to every dollar earned by men. Also, with new understandings and relearnings of sexual orientation and identity, employees who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community still encounter harsh workplace practices and unsafe work environments. But what Abbott fails to realize is how he himself can be hurt by his own actions.
Governor Abbott is paralyzed and is permanently in a wheelchair due to a freak accident in 1984 that involved a tree falling on him during a morning jog. Individuals with disabilities, either mental and/or physical, are allowed to acquire accommodations to further assist them in both the education space and the workplace. According the Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy, it is against the law to discriminate against individuals with a disability due to the mandates put in place by Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act,
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, and the Civil Service Reform Act.
Are race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and religion mutually exclusive? No they are not and should not be seen as such. Abbott’s narrow-minded view of DEI and the implications it has on the workplace is an example of why DEI is needed now more than ever.
