The Importance of Equity and Belonging in Our Workplace

A message from Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer and the Diversity and Inclusion Executive Council:

The Diversity & Inclusion Executive Council and I are coming to you together with a message on the importance of equity and belonging. These are values we strive to live by and infuse in every level of our organization. We’ve made great strides in recent years, but we were reminded lately this is a journey with more education and self-reflection needed.

Many of you have heard news reports of a jury’s verdict in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a former employee against the County. We want to be clear on the importance of inclusion and belonging in our workplace. These are core values we all embrace and strive toward.

Everyone deserves equal opportunities and treatment in our workplace and in the community. So, it is important that we all reflect on our actions to ensure we are creating a respectful culture for all, fostering a sense of belonging for all our employees and the people we serve, welcoming all layers of identity. We don’t condone othering of any kind. And we must continually work to eliminate any barriers or biases that may prevent individuals from reaching their full potential.

We acknowledge it takes ongoing efforts and learning to grow in this area. As we start a new year, when we often set goals for ourselves, it feels like an especially appropriate time to commit to strengthening the sense of belonging our co-workers feel.

That commitment needs to be backed by concrete actions.

On January 19, we will hold a listening session for all employees. This is an opportunity to come together and speak openly to each other and listen to one another. We want to hear your thoughts and suggestions on needed actions.

Additionally, the D&I Executive Council will create a special team to focus on identity expression in the workplace. We will include County staff, community members and subject matter experts to gain a variety of perspectives and embrace the engagement that we realize is fundamental to shaping our direction.

We want to remind each employee: you have both the right to a workplace free from discrimination and the right to raise any issues without the threat of retaliation. If you don’t feel comfortable going to your direct supervisor or someone in your department’s management chain, you can contact your department’s human resources representative or the Office of Ethics and Compliance.

Please don’t keep it to yourself.

From executives to supervisors, we all have a responsibility to create an environment where every employee feels valued and included. It must be clear – by your words and actions – there is no room for discrimination. You need to set a welcoming tone, take concerns seriously and respond appropriately. This includes actively promoting diversity and inclusion, addressing any instances of discrimination or harassment, and fostering open and respectful communication.

On this theme, we will soon be releasing a new sexual harassment prevention training. It broadens what’s been in earlier trainings and expands on topics of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. That is in addition to a variety of D&I trainings you can find in our LMS or request through HR.

We applaud the tremendous efforts employees are undertaking to advance equity and belonging in our communities and in our workplace, and we acknowledge there is much work to be done. Together, we can create a culture of belonging that enables our employees to thrive and contribute to the success of the County in a way that makes us all proud. We look forward to working with you as we take the next steps on this path.

Helen Robbins-Meyer
Chief Administrative Officer

Diversity & Inclusion Executive Council
Smitha Arons, Chief Deputy County Counsel
Sarah Aghassi, DCAO, Land Use and Environment Group
Natalia Bravo, Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Office
Susan Brazeau, Director, Department of Human Resources
Nadia Moshirian-Binderup, Special Assistant, Sheriff’s Department
Andrew Potter, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice
L. Michael Vu, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer