If I came across a news article reporting that my favorite company was involved in a lawsuit for any act of discrimination against a group I identify with, it would definitely change the way I feel about the company. Knowing that they were not practicing fair or inclusive behaviors would make it hard for me to support them moving forward or even look at them the same. I wouldn’t be able to buy from them again without thinking about the unjust behavior and unnecessary pain they caused, and I would lose respect for the brand.
This would definitely influence my decision to support the company moving forward. If the company sold something I just wanted, I’d stop buying it altogether and look for a different brand that aligns better with my values. If it was something I truly needed and couldn’t easily replace, it might be trickier to fully step away from them, but I would be done promoting them for sure, or recommending them, or standing behind what they do. They would no longer represent a brand I feel like I could be proud to be associated with, and instead, I’d just view their products as items I needed, not something I respected or valued owning.
Finally, this situation would absolutely affect whether or not I would apply to work for them in the future. I wouldn’t want to align myself with a company culture that doesn’t treat all people fairly and commits acts of discrimmination. I hope to be in a leadership role one day, and being a part of an organization that’s known for discrimination doesn’t reflect the kind of environment I want to help lead or be associated with. Fairness and inclusion matter to me, and hopefullt for the company I work for, and a company that fails in that area is not one I could see myself working for.
