MEI, what we can learn from Gen Z, and 'Tinder leave'
Here are 5 things to know about work this week.
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1. WTF is MEI? (and will it replace HR DEI efforts?)
Corporate diversity, equity and inclusion programs are currently under fire , and some are trying to replace the term DEI with another acronym — “MEI” — which stands for merit, excellence and intelligence.
Elon Musk and Alexandr Wang, co-founder and CEO of Scale AI, have spoken out against DEI programs in favor of what they call “MEI” based hiring, which they describe as hiring based solely on one’s talent and ability to do the job well —? often assessed by an impressive track record, or simply letting one’s accomplishments speak for themselves.?
2. The haves and have nots of the workplace: what HR can do to close the gap
The haves and have nots is not just a social phenomenon — it’s also a reality of the workplace, it seems.?
Mirroring the national wage gap , where nearly half of full-time employees in the U.S. don’t earn enough to provide for their and their families’ basic needs, companies have witnessed a widening division in the economic outlook among corporate executives and their employees, according to a recent study.
The Edelman Trust Barometer , based on responses from nearly 8,000 executives, mid-level managers and associates across eight countries, reports that while executive optimism about the economy has rebounded to its previous high in 2021, the views of lower-level employees have plummeted 10 points since 2019. Nearly 8 in 10 executives think they will be better off in five years, vs. just 4 in 10 associates — a disparity that’s leading to lower levels of motivation and worsening mental health among the workforce, the report determined.
3. What company leaders have learned from their Gen Z staff
The youngest generation in the workforce is certainly unlike others before them. Generation Z grew up as digital natives and went through college or started their first careers during the pandemic.
They are more vocal about previously stigmatized issues like mental health in workplaces . And they are demanding more from their employers by seeking more flexibility, meaning in their work , and the ability to be their true authentic selves on the job.?
At the same time, opinions around them being lazy, poorly socialized and having unrealistic expectations abound. But some company leaders are learning a lot from their youngest workers, and say they’re leading the charge to change how corporate cultures operate. Here are some thoughts from execs about their Gen Z staff.
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4. From ‘Tinder leave’ to pet insurance, employers get creative with benefits
A marketing agency in Thailand put an interesting spin on employee benefits, giving workers paid time off to pursue romantic connections they make on a dating app.
Dubbed “Tinder leave,” the perk is available to all 200 staffers of Whiteline Group, which started the policy after an employee complained about being too busy to date. The company is also footing the bill for employees’ premium Tinder subscriptions.?
From Tinder dates to pet insurance , meditation classes and smoking-cessation programs , employers have become extra creative when it comes to the benefits they offer. The reason is clear, as employees have come to value benefits more than ever — in some cases, even more than a pay bump. A recent analysis by the jobs site Indeed found that 59% of job postings advertised at least one employer-provided benefit, up from fewer than 40% in early 2020.
5. HR execs concerned DEI rollbacks will harm staff psychological safety, including those in LGBTQ+ community?
Recent backlash over diversity, equity and inclusion programs at companies are driving a range of workers to feel uneasy — including those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Over 70% of LGBTQ+ adults said they would feel less accepted at work if their employer rolled back DEI initiatives, according to a survey including over 2,000 respondents from the Human Rights Campaign.?
While the Supreme Court ruling last year driving this shift focused on race-based college admissions, DEI rollbacks stand to impact a variety of groups, including the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and those who are neurodivergent, to name a few.
Color by names and numbers
33% of companies are on three-days-a-week in-person hybrid schedules, according to an 2023 survey of over 200 HR and business leaders from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas.
Elsewhere in Digiday Media
Check out some of Digiday Media’s other stories on the future of work over the past week:
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This newsletter was curated by Courtney Marabella , senior social media/audience manager for Digiday . Let us know what you think, or what you hope to see more of, by dropping us a note at [email protected] .