Littler Diversity & Inclusion Podcast

In the second of a two-part podcast celebrating Black History Month, Littler associates Jason Byrd (New York) and Jo Gbujama (San Francisco) talk with licensed clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Adia Gooden, about the interpersonal journey of Black health and wellness, and techniques for navigating everyday issues.

In the first of a two-part podcast celebrating Black History Month, Littler associates Jason Byrd (New York) and Jo Gbujama(San Francisco) talk with licensed clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Adia Gooden, about the impact of systemic health inequity on Black Americans, and the importance of self-advocacy and being heard when it comes to resolving health issues.

As a follow-up to last week’s podcast about a proposed law to ban private companies from delivering diversity or discrimination-prevention training that inflicts any “guilt,” “anguish,” or “discomfort” due to historic wrongs, this episode explores the implications for employers. Littler Principal Cindy-Ann Thomas and her guests, Lori A. Brown, Littler Shareholder and Andrea Cisco, Chief Operating Officer of the Future Work Institute: - Discuss the socio-cultural factors in the national clamor for “guilt-free” learning zones - Consider the benefits of “discomfort” for effective learning initiatives - Explore the potential challenges that such mandates pose for companies seeking to preserve their Faragher-Ellerth defense to hostile work environment claims - Identify the steps that employers should take to safeguard their current anti-discrimination training programs from mounting “discomfort” claims - Share additional strategies that business leaders can take to resist an increasing call for such orders

In case you missed it, legislation designed to prohibit public schools and private businesses from inflicting any “guilt,” “anguish” or “discomfort” due to historic wrongs related to race or sex during diversity or anti-discrimination training was introduced in Florida last month. While the bill – which is being promoted as a move to protect “individual freedoms” – is a few stages away from becoming law, the move to ban discomfort is becoming an increasingly familiar refrain for learning initiatives across the country. Littler Principal Cindy-Ann Thomas and her guest from Flagler University, Professor J. Michael Butler, address diversity and discomfort as they: - Examine the socio-political and theoretical challenges of “eliminating” discomfort from the uncomfortable facts of history and the Civil Rights movement - Discuss “equity” as a tipping point for race relations in the U.S. - Consider the dangers of suppressing historical realities that make us uncomfortable - Contemplate the modern-day purpose of

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close this week, Littler Shareholder and Reunión Co-Chair Mel Cole (San Francisco) and Shareholder Anne Sanchez LaWer (San Jose) discuss their experiences with the Spanish language and the ways in which learning it – and not learning it – has impacted their individual connections to their Hispanic heritage.

In this podcast celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Shareholder and Global Practice Leader Peter Susser talks with Juan Carlos Varela, Shareholder of Littler’s Miami and Caracas offices, about becoming Littler’s first international attorney, extending a labor and employment law practice beyond the United States, and how that helped him achieve the American dream.

There are many employee referral strategies out there, and the newest among them is leveraging the employee referral bonus program to build diversity. Such programs offer special – sometimes higher – bonuses to current employees for the referral of candidates from traditionally underrepresented communities. In this podcast, Alyesha Asghar Dotson discusses whether such bonuses potentially may expose employers to legal risks, and whether employers ought to use them even if they are legally sound and effective.

Vendor or supplier diversity programs can be a powerful tool in a company’s Inclusion, Equity & Diversity toolbelt. But, like any tool, such programs can cause more harm than good if they are implemented haphazardly. In this podcast, Alyesha Asghar Dotson discusses the history, benefits, and challenges of implementing a successful vendor or supplier diversity program that pushes the needle forward regarding Inclusion, Equity & Diversity without embracing unnecessary legal risk.

In celebration of Pride Month, Jennifer Youpa (Dallas) interviews Shareholder and Littler Board Member Lee Schreter (Atlanta) about Lee’s experience coming out as a lesbian woman, the challenges and opportunities of intersectionality, and strategies for improved inclusion, equity and diversity across the legal profession.

Littler's Chief Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Officer Paul Bateman leads a conversation with Shareholders Dionysia Johnson-Massie (Atlanta), LaToi Mayo (Lexington), Lindbergh Porter (San Francisco), and Charles Wilson (Houston) as they discuss the trail to Juneteenth, its importance and how various acts impacted slavery in the U.S.

Kimberly Doud of Littler’s Orlando office, Chelsea Lewis of Littler's Miami office and Kameron Miller of Littler's Charleston office present episode two of the Allied Behavior podcast series. Allied Behavior is focused on cultivating conscious conversations about inclusion, equity, diversity, and allyship in a corporate environment. In this episode, Kimberly, Chelsea and Kameron discuss Juneteenth, the factors shaping our perceptions about race, and how to foster meaningful interactions in the workplace.

Racially offensive symbols, such as Confederate flags, displayed in the workplace can constitute evidence of a racially hostile work environment. In light of this and our ever-increasing efforts to foster harassment-free workplaces, Alyesha Asghar Dotson discusses how employers can prepare for and respond when potentially offensive symbols appear in their workplace.

In celebration of Pride Month, Whitney Williams (L.A. – Century City) and Michael Hui (San Francisco) discuss their personal experiences growing up gay in the Black and Asian American communities, what their similar upbringings have taught them about being an attorney, and how the Littler Pride affinity group is an important part of their lives at the firm.

In continued celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, Eddie Chyun (Cleveland), Lavanga Wijekoon (Chicago) and Aki Tanaka (Boston) share their stories of moving to the U.S., assimilating and adding to the American culture, and how their worldview, experiences, and background prepared them to practice law.

In support of AAPI Heritage Month, this podcast features Danielle Herring (Houston), Emilie Hammerstein (Pittsburgh) and Alan Sims (Downtown Los Angeles) as they explore their biracial identity and how that shapes the way they practice law.

Watershed events in recent years like the resurgence of Black Lives Matter and #MeToo have galvanized organizations to step up their commitments in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space to gauge the “cultural temperature.” The persisting pandemic has raised the stakes. Accordingly, many companies seeking a roadmap for these efforts increasingly want to begin their journey with a snapshot of who’s in the mix and how they are feeling. Enter the “Diversity Questionnaire.” Littler Principal Cindy-Ann Thomas and her guest, Littler Shareholder Alyesha Dotson: • Examine the reasons for the growing trend towards soliciting employees about their demographics and commentary on DE&I • Outline the purpose and function of the “diversity questionnaire” • Provide guidance on issues associated with these instruments • Explore alternative measurement tools

A properly structured and implemented Affinity Group (AKA Employee Resource Group) is a powerful tool in an employer’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion tool belt. But, unwary employers may risk violating the National Labor Relations Act if they bargain with an Affinity Group. In this month’s podcast, Alyesha Asghar Dotson discusses the do’s and don’ts of interacting with an active Affinity Group within your organization.

Kimberly Doud of Littler’s Orlando office, Chelsea Lewis of Littler's Miami office and Kameron Miller of Littler's Charleston office present episode one of the Allied Behavior podcast series. Allied Behavior is focused on cultivating conscious conversations about inclusion, equity, diversity, and allyship in a corporate environment. In this episode, Kimberly, Chelsea and Kameron discuss the importance of effective allyship and provide suggestions to turn allyship into meaningful action in the workplace.

Littler Principal Cindy-Ann Thomas and her special guest, Pranam Lipinsk, a dedicated scholar of Generation Z and co-founder of Door of Clubs, delve into the (unofficial) rule book for attracting and retaining these young professionals. They will: - Crack the code on “Gen Z Speak” - Outline what’s really most important to members of the iGen - Pinpoint the actions employers should be taking to attract and retain these young professionals - Discuss how and why your current approach to DE&I may be failing them - Identify resources that may help Gen Z navigate a post-COVID world

Margaret Parnell Hogan interviews Wendy Buckingham and Emily Haigh on how their experience as women in the U.S. military influenced their legal careers, and how their backgrounds shaped their outlook on gender equity in the workplace.