In August 2020, after the Jacob Blake shooting, I created a summary document (based on personal research I was doing at the time) to help managers proactively address tragic events in our communities as they happen.

NOTE: Although this document originally focused on the Black community, these steps work for various scenarios, despite the ethnicity, location, age, gender, or sexual orientation of the community
involved.

Please, edit with intentionality. Impact matters.

REMEMBER: Social injustice cannot be fixed overnight, but an empathetic work environment can make a lasting impact on teams and ease daily stress.

6 Steps to Address Social Injustice while at Work

1. Quickly acknowlege what’s happening in the world

• Use this moment to reiterate company values, and to take a stand against racism and violence.
• Employees need decisive communication about what you do and don’t support.
• If you don’t know what to say, educate yourself on the facts about racism and injustice from
  reliable sources.

2. Ensure all managers are aware of the recent event and have checked on their employees

• Reach out to Black employees most likely impacted quickly and show empathy for the
  physical, mental and emotional toll these events may have had on them.

3. Reduce work-related pressure

• Encourage self care and offer flexibility, so employees can take time to work through their
  feelings and emotions.
• Don’t downplay the impact of these events while stressing focus on productivity; this can
  reduce employee morale, trust, and mental health.

4. Make space for discussion

• Use a communication tool to create a discussion group across the entire organization for those
  who wish to talk or need support. Repeat these sessions weekly for as long as needed.
• Refrain from asking Black employees to share personal experiences unless they self-volunteer
  themselves and don’t assume they can provide resources or education on-demand.

5. Encourage employees to check on one another

• Remember you are a team!

6. Support communities beyond the workplace

• Think of ways to contribute in your local community to social justice causes and push for
  positive changes.
• Remember external actions should not take away from internal challenges that have yet to be
  resolved in your organization.