A survey by the Free Speech Union reveals that nearly two-thirds of employees who participate in diversity training in the workplace say they have to suppress their genuine opinions for fear of losing their jobs. The Telegraph has more.
Nearly a quarter say they have been compelled to say things they don’t believe after attending the courses.
Members of the minority communities, where the schemes are meant to benefit, were more likely to find the training conflicted with their views, the survey of 800 employees found.
One person surveyed, a white woman in her late 50s, said: “I think everyone is too scared to speak about topics like this any more and certainly free speech doesn’t exist in my company.”
It comes after Kemi Badenoch told the Telegraph that Britain’s diversity push had been “counterproductive” and that many equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives are “snake oil”.
The Free Speech Union was set up by journalist Toby Young to oppose cancel culture. …
The poll found that 45% believed their EDI training conflicted with their personal, religious or political views.
The proportion was higher among ethnic minorities and religious groups, and men were more likely to say this than women.
More than a third (36%) said they had witnessed staff being penalised in some way by their current employer because they challenged the training, including 12% who witnessed staff being fired for doing so.
The media and communications sectors were the most likely to penalise their employees.
The survey found that 31% had left a former employer because of their endorsement of “woke” ideology.
The proportion is much higher among minority groups: 43% for black people, 46% for Asian people and 46% for gay people.
Nine per cent said they had such a negative view of the training that they might have to leave the employer who has insisted on it.
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“Diversity Training” —–INDOCTRINATION.——- But is it the proper role of government to tell us all how to behave and what to think all based on the Liberal Progressives world view?——— Is it anti diversity to point out that you think there are too many people coming to the country at too fast a rate? Is it anti diversity to complain about rape gangs in towns all over England committed by mainly one bunch of people? Is it anti diversity to laugh when someone talks about “Her Penis”? ——–The idea that you might be sacked for some of that stuff I just mentioned is beyond absurd, but that is where we are now in the western world where Identity Politics is destroying the fabric of society and the Cultural Marxists just love it.
I think some of it is indoctrination, but I am not sure that it’s always a sincere attempt to make people believe different stuff – I think there are other motives 1) It makes clear to anyone with the “wrong” ideas that they had better not voice those ideas. 2) It serves to identify anyone with the “wrong” ideas who might otherwise have gone under the radar by staying quiet during informal discussions with work colleagues. They are now forced to “out” themselves or repeat stuff they don’t believe. 3) If you can make people repeat stuff they don’t believe, it may be easier to make them do stuff they don’t want to do. 4) It probably discourages people with the “wrong” ideas from going into many firms, professions, sectors.
You say “if you can make people repeat stuff they don’t believe…..”—–That pretty much sounds like “indoctrination” to me. ———Indoctrination according to the dictionary is “the process of repeating an idea or belief to someone till they accept it without criticism or question” ——–I give the example above of “Her Penis”. This is clearly absurd and forcing people to say or think that may make the Cultural Marxist fell they have achieved their goals, but in reality people are only keeping their mouths shut to not lose their job. ——-Is this the world we want to live in where we all have to “keep our mouths shut”?
Your point is well made. I guess it depends on how you define “accept”. I think the type of “acceptance” this kind of training is meant to produce is usually just compliance rather than actually believing what you are repeating is true. Either way it’s sinister.
What ToF said.
It’s not to teach people what to think but to teach them what it is safe to say and the ‘right’ answers when put on the spot. After that, it’s over to the individual to keep their mouth shut. Keeping quiet in the face of evil absurdities is, of course, very stressful.
Many useful people have left employment under this sort of stress. The country is losing productive talent.
Or as someone once pointed out “All it takes for evil to succeed is for good men to stay silent”————–Or any of the 93 other genders too ofcourse.
The government isn’t doing this. So-called private businesses do. And while it’s debatable if government should engage in this kind of re-education of the demos supposedly controlling government (still claimed to be democratic) it’s absolutely certain that private enterprise shouldn’t be doing this based on their power of economic blackmail. That’s in no way different from a bunch of thugs showing up at some business premises and suggesting that the owner buys an inusrance policy to prevent ‘bad stuff’ from happening.
Are they not doing it in schools though?
This article wasn’t about schools.
Fair enough RW.
“The Government isn’t doing this” ?????———-When were you last in a school where kids are taught what to think rather than how to think? Private business is not in schools filling children’s heads with climate fear and gender politics. It is government that is doing that.———– On eg Climate Change, what is the IPCC? —The InterGOVERNMENTAL Panel on Climate Change. It isn’t the InterBUSINESS Panel. It is all entirely government led and government financed——–OK so this article was specifically about Corporations and Businesses and their wokery, but it all emanates from government and their Equality, Diversity, Race, Gender and Climate NONSENSE. ————Under the auspices of the WEF, the United Nations, Unaccountable Billionaires, assorted NGO’s etc are determined to create a global technocracy, otherwise known as The Great Reset. This is the social engineering project now going on that seeks to control all humans and all human activity.. ——-Wallmart, Amazon, and Barclays Bank didn’t suddenly decide they were going to indulge in wokery for the sake of it. It is all entirely Government led.
There’s no such thing as the government. There are a lot of governments on this planet. And some of them are on board with this agenda while some others are not. Even different European governments differ a lot in this respect. The prime example would be Tusk’s recent take-over of the Polish government which enabled him to implement a lot of The Policies earlier Polish government refused to implement. Some governments are led into this in the exact same way as some businesses and some NGOs are.
I once more point fellow lovers of free speech to this fine paper: In Protection of Freedom of Speech, a legal analysis by Francis Hoar. – Workers of England Union
There’s a section on protections for employees which is especially relevant
I did write to the FSU and suggest they draw up a draft free speech for employees charter which they could campaign to have employers sign up to – it would give the area more visibility and focus and might tip a few places to think about the issue more sensibly, as well as providing a ready list of places that people could go and work with some comfort that their speech would not lead to them being disciplined
Perhaps those all afraid of “Speech” can spend their days in a government facility where they can be given colouring books, teddy bears, and a glass of milk.
The arrogance of companies and Governments in that in the former they exist to provide a service or a product, their employees are contracted to produce or provide that product or service, which in return they receive wages. That is the contract, and it should end there, companies are not in business to provide social engineering, political/religious training in its owners belief system. That is the sphere of the employees personal life. Govrnments and Companies need to learn this lesson and to do away with anything or sack anyone who does not contribute to the physical production of the Goods or services.
The CEOs seem largely on board with it though, goodness knows why.
I’m pretty sure my last CEO just paid lip-service to it. Safer for him and the company reputation.
Fear mainly. They fear being ‘outed’ as racists, transphobists, etc etc so they play along with it all. I very much doubt that they’re all doing it because they fervently believe what they are doing is right.
ESG now comes into play. (Environmental and Social Governance). It is now essential to have the Liberal Progressive world view in everything you do in business. If you do not comply with this world view you will be ostracised as points will be awarded and a score given on your environmental and social impact. You may not receive finance, unless you put fanciful nonsense about climate or about diversity race and gender first before profits.
It’s not just a fear of losing their job; it’s also a fear of knowing that if you make one “inappropriate” comment, the Thought Police will jump on you and although you’ll be allowed to keep your job you will then know that you will never be allowed to progress. Your career will effectively be over.
I took early retirement from the Civil Service about 8 years ago now. Even then it was obvious that if you didn’t agree with all the nonsense and had the temerity to say what you really thought, “your card was marked.”
I dread to think what it would be like now.
This survey was done in Jan in the ”UK”. It’d be interesting to do the same survey in Scotland now. If many people have already left their work place due to Woke BS and are afraid to voice their opinions then I can certainly see those figures only increasing significantly in Scotland. I certainly couldn’t work under such constraints. People need to channel their inner Braveheart and think about prioritizing and living by their principles. Echoes of the Scamdemic years here, of course. But it does boil down to the old adage: ”Better to die on your feet than live on your knees.” Or just find a better employer…
I went down the “find a better employer” route. I wasn’t a career CS; it suited me when my sons were teenagers and didn’t need overseeing all the time. I’m now back in the private sector …. a small local company with the least PC owner I’ve ever come across. It’s great 🙂
Keeping your thoughts to yourself in the workplace is one thing.
Being compelled to say things you don’t believe is another.
The first I’m fine with. Work is for working, not for political campaigning.
But the second is terrible.
And I suppose it happens because companies become political, which they shouldn’t.
This is why it’s important to have two things:
1. Useful skills.
2. So-called F*ck You Money (i.e. enough savings to be able to leave their employment if they piss you off, and without giving notice, if necessary).
Make sure your employer knows you have both, too.
There are too many people in the workplace who have neither. They’re easy targets for this crap.
Oh, and avoid big companies. Get as close as possible to the person who actually pays you to work.
Interestingly this is not new. Fortunately I am now retired.
I grew up half way between Leicester and Rugby and then went to university in Birmingham so was introduced visually and verbally to “ethnic minorities” and never thought much about it.
I lived, worked and played with them.
I found that the colour of a person’s skin made little difference. There were just good, bad and indifferent individuals.
Then I graduated and went to work at Leicester City Council.
In 81/82 I had to attend what is now called EDI training.
I came out thoroughly upset and cross and certainly more racist than I went in.
And I suspect what we had was mild compared to today’s training courses.
I have reread the board in the picture above.
In Scotland, misogyny is not a “hate crime”.
Any employer who goes in for this is not worth working for. They are clearly brainless and will undoubtedly go broke soon. Just tell them to FRO. They sack you, you sue them for discrimination! Simple.
“It comes after Kemi Badenoch told the Telegraph that Britain’s diversity push had been “counterproductive” and that many equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives are “snake oil”.”
Snake oil? It’s cultural Marxism dear. Now get a grip and tell the lot of them to …. off.