HR professionals are being advised to “check in” with their employees and do their best to accommodate annual leave requests to attend demonstrations as the Black Lives Matter movement gains traction and further protests are planned across the UK.
Since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week, thousands across the globe have taken part in protests against widespread inherent racism and the way black people have been treated by police officers in the US and beyond. Floyd, a black man, died after a white police officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, despite him telling officers he could not breathe.
The police officer has since been dismissed and has been charged with third degree murder and manslaughter.
As well as the protests across the US, thousands of protesters broke social distancing regulations to gather in Trafalgar Square for a “Kneel for Floyd” protest on Sunday, while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton on Monday. Thousands supporting the Black Lives Matter movement are expected to take part in a demonstration in London’s Hyde Park today (3 June).
Black Lives Matter: Employers urged to take a stand against racism
David Cliff / SOPA Images/Sipa USA/PA Images
HR professionals are being advised to “check in” with their employees and do their best to accommodate annual leave requests to attend demonstrations as the Black Lives Matter movement gains traction and further protests are planned across the UK.
Since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota last week, thousands across the globe have taken part in protests against widespread inherent racism and the way black people have been treated by police officers in the US and beyond. Floyd, a black man, died after a white police officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, despite him telling officers he could not breathe.
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The police officer has since been dismissed and has been charged with third degree murder and manslaughter.
As well as the protests across the US, thousands of protesters broke social distancing regulations to gather in Trafalgar Square for a “Kneel for Floyd” protest on Sunday, while hundreds marched through Peckham and Brixton on Monday. Thousands supporting the Black Lives Matter movement are expected to take part in a demonstration in London’s Hyde Park today (3 June).
Businesses across the globe have taken to social media to issue statements about their support for the Black Lives Matter movement, while employers and employees of all ethnicities are being urged to challenge racist incidents.
The CIPD issued a statement on Twitter that urged HR professionals to prioritise diversity and inclusion and “check in” with staff. It said: “Racism has no place in our society. We have been talking to our people and gathering our thoughts at the CIPD in what has been a difficult and emotional few days. People are hurting and as a colleague put it ‘we are not ok’.
