As the saying goes, the news never stops. In this weekly news roundup, we’ll cover the top news stories impacting American workplaces and communities.
1. Majority of Non-LGBTQ+ Americans Support Companies Publicly Backing LGBTQ+ Community, Survey Finds
The 2023 inaugural “Accelerating Acceptance” study by GLAAD reveals mixed findings regarding LGBTQ+ acceptance in America.
The study, released on the first day of Pride Month, indicates that support for LGBTQ+ equal rights has reached an all-time high, with 84% of respondents expressing their support.
The study notes a disturbing trend of false beliefs among some Americans, with a significant percentage holding misconceptions about the LGBTQ+ community. Of the non-LGBTQ+ respondents, 66% said they believe the LGBTQ+ community is “one group who all share similar needs and issues,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in the report’s executive summary.
Fifty-four percent of respondents said they believe LGBTQ+ people use they/them pronouns because they are “in the process of figuring out who they are.”
“In truth, individuals use pronouns to express themselves as who they are in their fullness. And the LGBTQ community is everywhere, is multifaceted, and exists in all parts of society; the community’s needs and truths are as varied as the people who comprise it,” Ellis said.
The study highlights the importance of responsible representation in media and accurate reporting in shaping public attitudes. It also underscores the urgent need for education and representation to foster full acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals. Read the entire report here.
- Watch our “Instilling Gender-Neutral Practices in the Workplace” webinar to learn more about the importance of using proper pronouns and download Fair360’s Pride Month Meeting in a Box.
2. Jobs Report Shows 339,000 Jobs Added in May
The latest U.S. jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the labor market continued to thrive as employers added 339,000 jobs in May.
However, the unemployment rate rose from 3.4% to 3.7%, with an increase in temporary job losses and layoffs, while the Black unemployment rate spiked to 5.6%.
While the jobs report showed mixed signals, the White House celebrated the strong growth just hours after Congress passed the debt ceiling deal. The deal cleared the Senate Thursday night.
“Today is a good day for the American economy and American workers,” President Biden said in a statement. “We learned this morning that the economy created 339,000 jobs last month. We have now created over 13 million jobs since I took office. That is more jobs in 28 months than any President has created in an entire 4-year term.”
3. Chris Womack Is Officially the CEO of Southern Company
Southern Company (No. 24 on the Fair360 2023 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list) President and CEO Chris Womack took over for Thomas A. Fanning on March 31. This is a significant milestone as Womack is one of the few Black chief executives leading a major publicly traded corporation in the country.
The appointment comes at a time when the representation of Black CEOs remains low, putting pressure on corporate America to improve representation in top-level positions. Womack’s previous role was Chairman, President and CEO of Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of Southern Company. He brings extensive leadership experience within the company and its subsidiaries.
Womack graced the stage at Fair360’s Top 50 event on May 2, where he spoke during a Fireside Chat titled “Succession Planning, Accountability and Sustainability.”
Watch the session video and other materials from our Top 50 event.
4. More Employees Are Working Side Hustles and Not Telling Their Boss About It
We’ve all heard of terms like “quiet quitting” and “quiet firing” over the last year or so. But a new workplace trend is gaining momentum despite not having a catchy name. Employees are working a side hustle they are not telling their primary employer about.
A study by Bankrate shows that 39% of adults in the U.S. earn money outside of their full-time job. Regarding Gen Z and millennials, the number rises, with 53% of people aged 18 to 26 and 50% of people aged 27-42 bringing in extra income on the side.
Although traditional employers often view side hustles negatively, Bankrate found they have become a means for low-income workers to cope with the rising cost of living. The additional income generated from side hustles is seen as essential rather than a passion project or a way to improve financial standing, particularly given the current inflationary environment.
5. Visit Our Featured Partners Section!
At Fair360, our content focuses on workplace fairness trends affecting American workplaces. And content in our “Featured Partners” section often complements themes found in Fair360 articles, videos and more.
For example, we published our Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) Meeting in a Box in May to celebrate the strength, tenacity, resilience and contributions of Asian Americans worldwide.
- If you’re a Fair360 Enterprise subscriber, download the Meeting in a Box here. Click here to sign up for a Fair360 subscription.
As part of our Featured Partners content, we included a LinkedIn post from Sysco highlighting their celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. In the shared video on LinkedIn, Sysco recommends various ways to commemorate this month, such as watching a documentary on Asian American History and visiting AAPI museums.
