June is soon upon us which means rainbows slapped across corporate social media pages far and wide as a way for companies to say “hey, we’re OK with gay!” Which, I mean, that’s cool and all but maybe we’ll achieve a point in our lifetimes where people of all backgrounds can feel welcome and accepted and loved without all that performative nonsense that’s birthed in straight, white boardrooms. Eh, some day.
In the meantime, we have the “Proud to be Gay” ad campaign by EY which appears to have ruffled some feathers. Unfortunately, the firm didn’t see that coming. Let’s take a look at the screenshots nabbed on LinkedIn by a tipster:
Of course they made a poll. It seems this person in particular didn’t appreciate it.
Look, we’re the first people eager to rag on tone-deaf firms and their superficial feel-good nonsense. But is this really that bad? Coupled with the @EY_People Twitter running stories about out LGBTers at the firm, it appears to be a sincere effort to encourage that segment to consider EY if an inclusive environment is something they want or need in their work life.
“I’ve always shown my true colors at work and realizing my EY friends and colleagues appreciate me for who I am and have my back helped me find the courage to come out to my family and become more proud of being LGBTQ+.” – Francisco, New York#ProudToBelong | #IDAHOT | #IDAHOBIT pic.twitter.com/fOyOCYApUY
— EY People (@EY_People) May 20, 2021
Maybe, just maybe, that’s a message that someone out there who hasn’t been living their best life needs to hear.
Anyway, EY responded in the best possible way they could, which is to say that even though it’s the internet they’re not allowed to be raging assholes like the rest of us often are from underneath our dubious cloaks of anonymity and therefore had no other options than to say thanks for the feedback and move on.
Thus, we turn to you, Going Concern faithful. Do you find this offensive? Personally I’m far more offended by the time Moss Adams posted a picture of one of their minions working poolside on the weekend and thought it was actually a plus that they were so graciously allowing “flexible” work arrangements but maybe that’s just me.
Yeah the post kind of illuminates how hard it is to get business leaders to treat employees with respect unless there’s a dollar in it for them. It looks bad and it is bad.
I find it humourously ‘corporate’ because I generally feel respected and included in my workplace by my peers and the stakes aren’t too high for me. I imagine though that for those that don’t have that experience, this post could be alienating.
It’s definitely offensive as it reduces individuals in the LGBTQ+ community down to something that can help EY’s bottom line. LGBTQ+ people shouldn’t be commodified or tokenized which the post implies. Rainbow capitalism isn’t a good look.
People, LGBTQ or otherwise, ARE already commoditized in public accounting. That’s the business model. If anything, it means progress that they are now being identified and sold as human slaves just like the rest of us.
Offensive, probably. Shallow, patronizing and unconsidered, definitely. Imagine the same survey applied to any group of people — women, women of color, short or tall or completely average height men, people of any nationality or physical ability and so forth. Imagine :”Why do we hire Latinx people? The answer should always the same – to deliver our best in diverse teams of diverse thought and work.
So if you’re gay AND a pancake brain at EY, what bucket do you get put in?
I find Martine de Riddler being offended offensive….please stop being offended Martine. And don’t get me started on Meriam Nazih Alrashid – I find her way beyond offensive. It was people like her that drove me out of Pubic Accounting and into a new line of work. You should see our Diversity and Inclusion Policy here at the Wagner Group (PMC Wagner).
What I find interesting is that people seem to think they have a right not to be offended. I’m offended everyday by all sorts of stuff but I don’t go around pointing it out to everybody.