OFCCP’s Commitment to Native American Inclusion in the Workplace

May 27, 2020

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and its Indian and Native American Employment Rights Program (INAERP) are committed to supporting federal contractors’ efforts to foster outreach and inclusion of Native Americans in the workplace.

In September 2019, we conducted a successful Native American Outreach Town Hall event and identified three action plan items to increase program awareness, provide compliance assistance, and identify contractor resources. The agency made these deliverables a priority for the Fiscal Year 2020 and we are pleased to announce the new INAERP landing page, which highlights the following:

Visit the landing page for more information

Reduce Stress and Rebuild Connections

May 26, 2020

No doubt each of our daily routines has changed dramatically over the past few months. In previous issues of this communication we’ve looked at how to be resilient in the face of our new way of working and of being. One area that we have not specifically addressed is physical and mental exercise. Only recently has the weather been conducive to walking or jogging outside BUT, truth be told, many of us are getting bored of seeing the same streets in our neighborhoods. So, to change it up, we consulted with some of our own University experts on exercise and wellness to learn how to care for our physical and emotional well being without having to leave our workspace – even if it’s our kitchen table. Good luck!

Read about more resources here

EMBRACING STILLNESS

May 20, 2020.

You have likely comforted a family member, friend or even a colleague with regard to the current challenges all around us. It’s what most of us naturally do. However, when did you last consciously comfort yourself? With the swirl of news and constant changes taking place in our daily lives, our peace of mind or solace is often lost. There is a place for self-compassion in this world, we just need to find it. Acknowledging our losses, allowing for self-care, and cultivating some still time for ourselves can bring us closer to a place of inner peace.

Please take a few moments to read and view the resources gathered for you below.

Working Mother’s Subha Barry: ‘The load we’re asking moms to bear is simply not sustainable’

May 8, 2020
By Subha Barry

With Mother’s Day landing during the COVID-19 crisis, Barry says now is a more important time than ever to pay tribute to moms who are doing more than ever before. She also explains how managers can support them better.

One thing that’s bringing a smile to my face during these uncertain times is when I have videoconferencing calls with my team members, and I see their children’s curious faces pop up on the screen or hear their little voices in the background.

Still, I see the stress on their moms’ faces, a feeling I remember when I had young children. I see my employees’ glances directed at their kids to give Mommy some quiet work time. I see their exhausted eyes from juggling so many roles, as a parent, an employee, homeschool teacher, partner and more.

Read the complete article

Two Sikh doctor brothers shaved their beards so they can safely treat coronavirus patients

May 7, 2020
By Todd Perry

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to adjust their lifestyles to keep themselves and others healthy. But physician Sanjeet Singh-Saluja and his brother Rajeet, a neurosurgeon, were forced to make a decision that affected them on a very deep, spiritual level.

The Singh-Saluja brothers are both members of the Sikh religion. One of the major pillars of their belief system is sewa. Sewa means “selfless service.” It involves acting selflessly and helping others in a variety of ways, without any reward or personal gain.

This commitment to sewa is the big reason why the brothers work as doctors.

Another major pillar in Sikhism is kesh. According to Sanjeet, kesh is the practice of allowing one’s hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God’s creation.

Read the article and watch the video

Face masks are a challenge for people with hearing difficulties

April 30, 2020
By Kevin Munro

The use of face masks by the public is a controversial topic and not supported by the World Health Organization. Evidence suggests that while face coverings and surgical masks can prevent large particles spreading from an infected person wearing a mask to someone else, they don’t trap tiny particles such as coronavirus.

A mask may also increase a person’s risk of contracting COVID-19 by encouraging them to touch their face as they fit and adjust it. Exhaled air can irritate the eyes, which might also tempt the wearer to wipe them.

Read the complete article

5 Ways Diversity And Inclusion Help Companies Before, During And After The Pandemic

April 27, 2020 by Paolo Gaudiano.

When faced with difficult situations, companies look for ways to minimize costs. Typical cost-cutting measures include downsizing staff, cutting contracts with vendors and curtailing all activities that are not essential to survival.

The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be one of the most challenging periods that our country has ever faced, as evidenced by the staggering number of people who have become unemployed in recent weeks: since the start of the pandemic, some 26 million people have filed for unemployment insurance as of April 23, 2020, pushing US unemployment to levels we have not seen in nearly a century.

Read the complete article

College Student Designs Face Mask for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

April 6, 2020
By Emma Taggart

The current COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), but those who are crafty enough have been making their own face masks from recycled fabric at home. The CDC has approved many of these homemade masks as acceptable precautionary protection, but there’s one design flaw—by covering our mouths with fabric, the masks make it impossible for the deaf and hard of hearing to communicate. That’s why Kentucky-based, 21-year-old college student Ashley Lawrence designed a reusable face mask with a see-through window.

Read the complete article here.

Asian Americans report over 650 racist acts over last week, new data says

March 26, 2020
By Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil

Seattle resident Kari was at her local grocery store in mid-March when another shopper told her own child she couldn’t be in the same line as the Korean American. She would get them sick, the shopper said. A week later at the same store, a cashier refused to check her out, saying she was going on break.

The encounter is one of hundreds of racist and xenophobic incidents that have been reported over the past week, new data reveals. The online reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate shared exclusively with NBC Asian America that since its inception March 18, it has received more than 650 direct reports of discrimination against primarily Asian Americans.

Read the complete article.

How to Respond to Microaggressions

March 3,2020
By Hahna Yoon

Should you let that comment slide, or address it head-on? Is it more harm than it’s worth? We can help.

For many of us, microaggressions are so commonplace that it seems impossible to tackle them one at a time. Psychologists often compare them to death by a thousand cuts.  The metaphor is both the subtitle to a paper that Kevin Nadal, professor of psychology at John Jay College, wrote about the impact of microaggressions on L.G.B.T.Q. youth, and the title of another paper on the health implications of black respectability politics by Hedwig Lee, professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, and Margaret Takako Hicken, research assistant professor at the University of Michigan. The phrase is commonly found in additional studies on the topic.

Read the complete article.

Scholars v. COVID-19 Racism

April 2, 2020
By Elizabeth Redden

Scholars with expertise in Asian American studies, public health and other fields have a new urgent agenda for their teaching, research and outreach: confronting coronavirus-related racism.

Jason Chang, an associate professor of history and Asian American studies at the University of Connecticut, started putting together a crowdsourced document with resources on teaching about coronavirus-related racism back in January. Students, he said, are hungry for readings that help them put this current moment in perspective.

Read the complete article.

Leading inclusively during a crisis: 7 ways to make virtual meetings more inclusive

April 27, 2020

In addition to disruptions to most other areas of our lives, many of us have experienced an abrupt change in how and where we work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who are able to work remotely, this transition may come accompanied by a new set of challenges. While some people have quickly become fluent with the technology necessary for remote work, others are still figuring out how best to make the adjustment. For example, managers and employees alike may be wondering how best to run a meeting when some attendees have roommates or children nearby. Or when not everyone has access to reliable internet. In the midst of an international crisis that impacts each of us and our colleagues in unique ways, continuing to foster an inclusive workplace can feel daunting.

The good news is that many of the inclusive practices people use when leading meetings in person remain relevant and effective in a virtual context. Below are tips for translating those inclusive practices to the digital meeting space and for taking advantage of available technology so that team members of all identities feel acknowledged, valued, and supported.

Read the complete article

OCR Short Webinar on Online Education and Website Accessibility

Mar 17, 2020

 

Webinar from DoE Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kenneth Marcus about ensuring web accessibility to students with disabilities when using online learning or remote instruction.  Also a good resource for faculty teaching remotely.

Watch the video

How to Hire for Emotional Intelligence

HBR

by Annie McKee

February 05, 2016

We know from research (and common sense) that people who understand and manage their own and others’ emotions make better leaders. They are able to deal with stress, overcome obstacles, and inspire others to work toward collective goals. They manage conflict with less fallout and build stronger teams. And they are generally happier at work, too. But far too many managers lack basic self-awareness and social skills. They don’t recognize the impact of their own feelings and moods. They are less adaptable than they need to be in today’s fast-paced world. And they don’t demonstrate basic empathy for others: they don’t understand people’s needs, which means they are unable to meet those needs or inspire people to act.

Read the complete article

Zooming While Black

By Shonda Buchanan
April 17, 2020

Videoconferencing from our private spaces opens a lens on cultural authenticity, professional image, workplace code-switching, and white privilege.

As soon as my image leapt onto the videoconferencing screen, it dawned on me, a smiling African American woman wearing a sleek, multicolored headband, that I was probably a little too relaxed in my appearance. I also realized that my colleagues, mostly white and Asian, were seeing me for the first time in my natural, fuss-free cultural state.

In the classroom, I wear slacks or a skirt, a blouse, maybe a shawl. My hair is always neatly pulled back. I am prepared for that space. I have cultivated my image there over 18 years of university-level teaching — operating with the understanding that I am a role model by default. As such, I represent Black women and girls everywhere.

Read the complete article

Reducing Stigma

CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
March 30, 2020

It is important to remember that people – including those of Asian descent – who do not live in or have not recently been in an area of the ongoing spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, or have not been in contact with a person who is a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 are not at greater risk of spreading COVID-19 than other Americans.

Public health emergencies, such as the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are stressful times for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can lead to social stigma(1) toward people, places, or things. For example, stigma and discrimination can occur when people associate a disease, such as COVID-19, with a population or nationality, even though not everyone in that population or from that region is specifically at risk for the disease. Stigma can also occur after a person has been released from COVID-19 quarantine even though they are not considered a risk for spreading the virus to others.

Read the complete article

7 Keys To Keeping Your Firm Inclusive In The Coronavirus Era

By Yusuf Zakir
We are in uncharted territory. Law firms, like most other professional services organizations, are confronting a new reality. For the first time, many law firms are quickly adopting remote working policies in order to allow their employees to remain safe while still committing to a high level of client service. We seek to maintain excellent service — which we will — while managing our organizations in entirely new ways.

Read the complete article.

How to Be an Inclusive Leader Through a Crisis

April 10, 2020

By Ruchika Tulshyan

 

Leaders are under extraordinary pressure right now. They are expected to make decisions quickly with incomplete and rapidly evolving information. And unfortunately, being in crisis mode can cause even the most intentional and well-meaning leaders to fall into patterns of bias and exclusion. Research shows that when we’re stressed, we often default to heuristics and gut instincts, rather than making deliberate and goal-oriented decisions. Read the full article.

 

 

Coronavirus risk for African Americans tied to more than race

Racial disparities around the virus are impossible to ignore, with African Americans seeing higher rates of hospitalization and of deaths.

April 12, 2020, 10:08 AM EDT

By Dante Chinni

WASHINGTON — Last week the racial disparities that have accompanied the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. became a major story. Officials in St. Louis, Detroit and a large swath of states reported that African American populations had been hit especially hard by the virus.

A look at the data helps explain why. Behind the well-known daily numbers of the pandemic — the cases, hospitalizations and deaths — a mix of geography, socioeconomics and health factors make COVID-19, the disease associated with the virus, particularly dangerous for some minority groups. Read the full article.

[Video] Igniting Hope to Combat Mental Health Challenges

Why is paying attention to our mental health and well-being so important through this pandemic – and after it? Find out from Tamara Rasberry, HR manager at National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and Dan Tomasulo, Ph.D., a core faculty member for the Spirituality Mind Body Institute (SMBI) at Columbia University, as they share how hope lies in our care and support of one another during these challenging times. View video

COVID-19 Could Set Women Back Decades on Gender Equality

The coronavirus pandemic needs to bring reforms to upend the systems that hold girls and women back.

THE WORLD WILL NEVER BE the same after the COVID-19 crisis. Along with the devastating impact on individuals, families, communities, and countries, the pandemic has also exposed gaping cracks in our social, political, and economic systems.

The most pervasive of those cracks is discrimination against women, which persists in every country in the world. Not one single country has yet reached gender equality, and even worse, many countries are moving slowly or even backtracking on key gender issues. The social and economic aftershocks from the COVID-19 pandemic could set women back by decades.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Crises on the scale of COVID-19 bring devastation, but they can also provide a platform for radical social change and the chance to “build back better.” COVID-19 could be the watershed we need to upend the systems that hold girls and women back. It brings a chance to make health care and education truly universal, to improve conditions and pay for millions, and to strengthen safety nets.

Read the complete article.

Save the Date! May 20, 2020 — 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Summit

The Fifth Annual Diversity & Inclusion Summit: Towards Inclusive Excellence, invites faculty and staff to participate in developmental learning opportunities focusing on approaches towards inclusive mindsets as well as collaborations to advance a thriving professional and academic environment.

 

Reduce Stress and Rebuild Connections

The Office of Human Resources is committed to the safety and welfare of our Boston College community throughout these unprecedented circumstances. During this time of concern for our colleagues and their families, who may be experiencing unusual stress and anxiety, Human Resources is initiating a regular communication to bring you ideas and resources on self-care and the care of your loved ones. See this weekly email for tips on managing your well-being, including topics like mindfulness, staying active, gratitude and shaping a positive mental attitude.

Visit the page with resources