Would the outstanding claims of discrimination change the way you felt about the company? Would it influence your decisions to support that company? Would it change whether or not you applied to work for that company in the future? Why or why not?
Recently, I came across a news article that reported a lawsuit against one of my favorite companies, accusing them of widespread discrimination against individuals from a background I closely identify with. This kind of news hits differently when it’s personal, and it forced me to reflect on my values and the companies I choose to support.
To be completely honest, my feelings about the company would definitely change. I believe in fairness, inclusion, and respect, especially as someone who is pursuing a career in human resources. Knowing that a company promotes or tolerates discrimination would raise serious red flags for me. While part of me wants to say I’d immediately stop supporting them, the truth is more complicated. For example, I still eat at Chick-fil-A occasionally, even though I know they have donated to anti-LGBTQ organizations in the past. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it shows that sometimes convenience or habit can cloud our ethical stance.
That said, I do draw the line when it comes to employment. I would not want to work for a company that discriminates, especially since HR professionals are meant to advocate for equity and create inclusive environments. If a company shows a clear pattern of mistreatment, it would not only contradict my values but also make it hard to do the kind of work I want to do.
In the end, while I might still support the company in small ways out of habit, I’d definitely be more critical of them and I wouldn’t want to contribute to that kind of culture from the inside.
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One thought on “Week 2 – Experiences with Discrimination”
Hi Hannah!
I really resonate with your internal conflict between supporting a company that operates on values you do not agree with and being a consumer of the company out of habit. Chick-fil-A is a really good example of this and a company that I think a lot of people would agree with your statement. I also really respect you drawing the line at employment, I think that when you work for a company you embody their values more than when you are just a consumer of that companies goods.