Humanism - Organisations the Individual and Social Responsibility

I had a discussion with a friend the other day about why more organisations aren’t speaking up about things like BLM.  She was a bit flat about the fact that her own organisation and it’s senior leadership team was silent.

It is really difficult as a senior leader to balance the needs and aims of the organisation with that of their own conscience, or even that of the majority view of their employees or stakeholders.  Even where you clearly have humanitarian aims, you must balance the politics, the fact that your views may alienate your stakeholders, against the aim of making a profit or ensuring that you maintain the government funding necessary to survive.

It’s not a great starting point for taking a moral stand about important social justice issues is it.  Senior leaders often don’t have the latitude of others within an organisation to be able to comment or to take a stand. Organisational aims can out-trump individual beliefs.

With for-profit organisations change can come from shareholder pressure.  Not-for-profits all differ.  Member based organisations must reflect the views of those members and commenting about issues outside the Articles of Association also becomes problematic for their Boards and Executives.   It is possibly a bit easier for most charities because they already have aims, for the most part, that will have a element of social justice to what they do.

I suggested that she should not be too harsh to judge senior leaders but to take the time to recognise the constraints that they are dealt.  But what can be done?

Firstly, you have to work within the constraints of any Code of Conduct or policies that the organisation asks you to abide by.  That doesn’t mean you can’t hold or express an opinion.  But you absolutely should not do it on behalf of the organisation, nor be critical of it.  In fact, if you do the latter and are not a whistleblower, you should question why you stay there if your ideals and those the organisation holds are poles apart.

So that actually gives you a fair bit of leeway in what you can say or do, which brings me to the second point.   Everyone deserves a safe workplace which includes being able to hold and express a view that is important to you.  That doesn’t mean you ram it down people’s throats but that you are free to hold it if it does not impact the workplace.

We should also recognise that there are views that do have a great impact.  Sexism, racism, ageism, genderism and any other “ism” you can think of can make workplaces uncomfortable and unsafe.  In those cases you have an obligation to speak up and call people out.

Now that may seem a little contradictory because how can you speak out about those things in the workplace but have that workplace ignore the larger big picture social justice issues?

My answer is that you need to find workplace allies, discuss and raise issues with them, use every opportunity you have, not to berate or belittle, but to educate.  If you can do that without compromising the organisation then you can contribute in a small way to much broader social change.

You know the biggest problem with many social justice issues is that they become labelled as being left or right wing.  Partisanship, religious or racial bigotry, sexism, all lead to the obscuring of the fundamental human right to be treated equally, fairly, with dignity and respect.  Strident extreme views are the anathema of reasonable public discourse and the true barrier to social change.

So question everything, particularly partisan opinions.  Ask yourself when you see an injustice whether you would be happy for your family or friends to have to endure the same circumstances.  You'll know what to do if the answer is "No". Find a voice, rational, humanistic and reasoned.  Finally, remember the Golden Rule, treat others as you would have them treat you.  

If you do that, then the small voices of reason will become a clarion call that will bring true change.  You can do that respectfully in the workplace, at home, amongst family, friends and colleagues.   Find your Humanism. Small steps but leave footprints ????