性少数群体,LGBTQ, 在人群中占据一个显著的比例。随着全球各地平权运动的兴起,许多企业也纷纷发生支持LGBTQ人士权利。但是的确也有许多人反对LGBTQ平权,所以企业这样做到底有没有好处呢?这次我们来分享斯隆管理评论的一篇文章,标题很有意思,在平等权利的彩虹下有金子。可谓一语双关,一方面彩虹下有金子是西方典故,同时LGBTQ的平权运动的象征物就是彩虹。
Companies supportive of LGBTQ employees and political policy have found that there is gold at the end of the equal-rights rainbow.
In 2017, the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey was launched to gauge citizens’ support for legalizing same-sex marriage. During the survey campaign, several companies also made their support known. Qantas was an early corporate voice for the “yes” vote — and received both accolades and the lion’s share of public ire for its efforts.Qantas’s openly gay CEO Alan Joyce was criticized by some government ministers and even assaulted by a protester while delivering an address at an event. (In the end, nearly two-thirds of citizens who took the survey were in favor, and the Australian Parliament made same-sex marriage legal in December 2017.)
词汇:
be launched: 被开展
gauge: 测量
ire:愤怒
Some company leaders still worry that engaging on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) rights will invite similar kinds of criticism. Traditional wisdom suggests that addressing a still divisive subject may alienate those against same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ issues. The fear is that if enough customers, employees, or investors take offense, they could initiate boycotts, quit their jobs, or sell their shares, harming the company’s financial performance in the process.
Making things even more challenging, LGBTQ rights vary greatly from country to country. As of fall 2018, in 69 out of the 193 countries recognized by the U.N., including much of Africa and Asia,same-sex relationships are considered criminal.
词汇:
invite criticism: 遭致批评
alienate :使疏远
initiate boycotts:引起抵制
Despite the risks, some global companies are making demonstrated efforts to support LGBTQ employees and issues. Major players are unabashedly out in their support for LGBTQ-friendly workplaces and laws. Google publicly commends its employee resource groups— grassroots communities — including Gayglers (which “informs programs and policies, so that Google remains a workplace that works for everyone”) and Trans at Google (which “seeks to ensure that the company’s products and policy stances are inclusive of all gender identities and expressions”). Microsoft’s“Pride” section of its website has videos of “people who inspire us” and suggestions for how individuals can support LGBTQ nonprofits financially.
词汇:
unabashedly :不加掩盖地
policy stances: 政治立场