Growing up, my parents shared many stories of the struggle, perseverance, and the marginalization of black people. My father frequently closed with, “There’s no shame in being black, it just ain’t easy at times.” He wasn’t kidding! I grew up in a society located smack dab in the middle of the land of the free, and home of the brave …
How to be a Better LGBTQ+ Ally to Coworkers and Candidates
Being an ally is more than just partying at pride parades and wearing rainbow outfits. Sure, those are a great way to show your support–and have a good time–but being an ally means making your LGBTQ+ counterparts feel welcome no matter where they are. And the workplace is a great place to start. Creating an inclusive space at work is …
Rainbow Flags for Everyone!
Pride is almost here! June is Pride month when all the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans folks (etc., etc.) pull out their rainbow flags and hope that their houses don’t get egged. Some of us live in neighborhoods where we don’t think twice before showing our pride (gayborhoods), while others can’t put out a flag for fear of retaliation. Luckily, …
Discrimination, A Hairy Situation.
Last month the New York City Commission On Human Rights banned discrimination based on hair. My elation that society had chipped away another chunk of the granite mountain that is discrimination immediately turned to shame, as I was left wondering why such a law was necessary in the year 2019 in the first place. This took me back to a …
How White People Can Celebrate Black History
“Happy Black History Month!” Sometimes white people tiptoe around saying that. Wish you didn’t have to say it? Well, think about how black people feel. They probably don’t want to say it either. They probably wish that we learned about the history of everyone in this nation including African Americans. But nay, as a country we have failed to teach …
We Want More Diverse Hires!
I’m in this really great position in my career where I get to speak to a lot of business leaders. There hasn’t been one leader in the past few years that hasn’t wanted to talk about one of two things (which usually go together): We need more hires We need to increase our diversity Getting more hires is actually really …
Diversity–Are We There Yet?
An auditor arrived for an ambush audit. He asked to speak with the individual who oversees HR–the receptionist called me. Minutes later I entered the conference room where I had her seat him. I extended my hand and said, “Hi I’m William Wiggins, I’m in charge of HR here, what can I do for you today?” He looked at my …
Need a New Year’s Resolution? How About Resolving to Hire More Older Workers in 2019.
I’ve never met my Fistful of Talent colleague Rachel Bitte, but her recent post on the big changes recruiters had to make (2018 Was the Tipping Point For Recruiting) to deal with “the current job market reality,” tells me she knows her way around a recruiting department. I’m also sure her insights are spot on for recruiters and hiring managers …
The Career (and Life) Benefits of Going Global
I’ve had the really good fortune of traveling internationally for a good chunk of my career. It’s been a career filled with humbling and tremendous learning, derived from surviving the potent mix of immigration/border security lines, horrific plane meals, and profound cases of jet lag. In fact, I would go so far as to say that traveling internationally has played a …
HR Girl Power in 2019
Ariana Grande proclaimed “God is a Woman,” Keith Urban sang about “Female,” and Jesse J begged girls to feel elevated and say “I am a Queen.” Fearless Girl is on the move to the NY Stock Exchange; Sheryl Sandberg focused headlines read “Fall from Grace” for her part in Facebook’s mishaps, and a new study shows a 51% wage gap …