Dude, no. Sit down.

[halfpint]

I'm watching one of our company town halls. Huge audience, both live and watching live via broadcast, with CEO, chairman, and other executive leadership. 

Some dude just stood up and asked why we don't have a "men's team member network" since we have a women's network, and they make up 57% of the company. Why don't men get a network since we're at a 13 point deficit? 

My head about popped off. 

He would not sit down, insisting that men lack networking skills and opportunities. 

[2curlydogs]

[raangoli]

I...have no words for this man

[bowies]

What was the answer?

[mrssandro]

Reminds me of the time when my coworkers was like why don't they don't do that for the males...in regards our yearly International Woman's Professional conference our company was having. He immediately back tracked.

These are the guys who write manifestos that make it political correct in their head.

[calamity]

Won't someone think of the poor white men?!?

[OscarQ]

Flames...flames coming out the side of my head. 🔥 🔥 🔥

[W.T.Faulkner]

He appears to lack networking skills. Jesus fuck.

[sofamonkey]

I'm curious what the response to his nonsense was.

[mbcdefg]

[picaflora]

We have these team member networks as well, and our other Support Center/HQ had their town hall today... you wouldn't happen to be in NC would you?

We haven't had questions about the women's one yet, but we just started a bunch of new ones for Millennials, LGBTQ, and various ethnic groups in the company. There have been a few comments floating around the office of "what now - a group for people that like to wear yellow shirts?" and such. It's really dis-heartening. The company is doing a big diversity and inclusion push, as our industry is predominately white men. My office is in a heavy red area, and the push back is discouraging on a daily basis.

[halfpint]

Sept 14, 2017 12:30:44 GMT -5 bowies said:

What was the answer?

Of course they left it to the lone woman on stage to answer (the HR leader, so in fairness maybe was more her question to field, but would have loved to see one of the male leaders drop some truth). 

It was said (with a bit of a smirk) that historically men have not had any disparity with networking and career advancement (which got a round of applause from the room), and that while she doesn't know of any other companies that have a "mens network", she could revisit that (which I'm sure she'll get right on).  She did encourage him to join one of the many networks available to team members, including the women's network, for all the opportunities provided.  

[simpsongal]

mbcdefg, for the gif win

[halfpint]

Sept 14, 2017 13:04:50 GMT -5 picaflora said:

We have these team member networks as well, and our other Support Center/HQ had their town hall today... you wouldn't happen to be in NC would you?

We haven't had questions about the women's one yet, but we just started a bunch of new ones for Millennials, LGBTQ, and various ethnic groups in the company. There have been a few comments floating around the office of "what now - a group for people that like to wear yellow shirts?" and such. It's really dis-heartening. The company is doing a big diversity and inclusion push, as our industry is predominately white men. My office is in a heavy red area, and the push back is discouraging on a daily basis.

She mentioned in her response that she hadn't had the questions about a men only network, but that some men wanted a "Christian" network. That request was denied, but they offered an interfaith network, which was not of interest to the Christian men. 

I'm not in NC - but it's a huge company, I know we have a presence there

[mbcdefg]

Sept 14, 2017 13:08:07 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

mbcdefg , for the gif win

[bowies]

I'm trying to imagine how that request would go over at my place of employment. We've had different communities of interest for a very long time, none are for white men though. I'm actually legitimately curious on how it would be handled.

[WOT?*]

Sept 14, 2017 13:08:44 GMT -5 halfpint said:

Sept 14, 2017 13:04:50 GMT -5 picaflora said:

We have these team member networks as well, and our other Support Center/HQ had their town hall today... you wouldn't happen to be in NC would you?

We haven't had questions about the women's one yet, but we just started a bunch of new ones for Millennials, LGBTQ, and various ethnic groups in the company. There have been a few comments floating around the office of "what now - a group for people that like to wear yellow shirts?" and such. It's really dis-heartening. The company is doing a big diversity and inclusion push, as our industry is predominately white men. My office is in a heavy red area, and the push back is discouraging on a daily basis.

She mentioned in her response that she hadn't had the questions about a men only network, but that some men wanted a "Christian" network. That request was denied, but they offered an interfaith network, which was not of interest to the Christian men. 

I'm not in NC - but it's a huge company, I know we have a presence there

Of course they weren't. Because just like gender, race, ethnicity and all those other minority "factions" religion doesn't matter unless it's the privileged majority. No interest in getting to know or support anyone who isn't a white male. Assholes. I hope this (not openly but still...) impacts promotions and responsibility levels. How can you trust them to lead anyone who isn't a white male, ya know? #notallwhitemen and all that rot.

[halfpint]

Sept 14, 2017 13:46:46 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

Sept 14, 2017 13:08:44 GMT -5 halfpint said:

She mentioned in her response that she hadn't had the questions about a men only network, but that some men wanted a "Christian" network. That request was denied, but they offered an interfaith network, which was not of interest to the Christian men. 

I'm not in NC - but it's a huge company, I know we have a presence there

Of course they weren't. Because just like gender, race, ethnicity and all those other minority "factions" religion doesn't matter unless it's the privileged majority. No interest in getting to know or support anyone who isn't a white male. Assholes. I hope this (not openly but still...) impacts promotions and responsibility levels. How can you trust them to lead anyone who isn't a white male, ya know? #notallwhitemen and all that rot.

Exactly. She knew what she was doing in sharing that story, too. Point heard. I mean, maybe not by that guy, but by just about everyone else. 

Interestingly enough, he wasn't white. 

[pinotgrig]

On the plus side, he outed himself as a tool to the whole company so, 👍 for him on that.