Table of Diversity Weekly: DEI This Week 3/4

Check out this post for the latest DEI news this week.

An Employer's Guide to Supporting Workers with Autism- Harvard Business Review

"Many neurodivergent individuals overlooked by corporate America excel in their ability to focus, be detail-oriented, and to execute methodical tasks- traits highly valued across all industries. Accounting clear, data management associate, inventory management clerk, and digital marketing specialist are all examples of roles suited to many neurodivergent people. Realizing the potential of the missing middle represents a significant opportunity for businesses to thrive. Workers may require thoughtful accommodations to perform their best, such as clear communication, structured routines, and sensory-friendly environments. By investing in these adaptations, employers not only facilitate the success of their neurodiverse communities of employees but also capitalize on a wealth of untapped talent, leading to a more inclusive and robust labor market."

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Places across the U.S. are testing no-strings cash as part of the social safety net- NPR

"Cash aid without conditions was considered a radical idea before the pandemic. But early results from a program in Stockton, Calif., showed promise. Then interest exploded after it became clear how much COVID stimulus checks and emergency rental payments had helped people. The U.S. Census Bureau found that an expanded child tax credit cut child poverty in half. That is, until the expansion ended and child poverty spiked.

Around the country, from big cities to rural counties there've been more than 150 basic income pilots, and counting. Supports say it works because people can spend the money on whatever they need most.

'They can pursue education for themselves and their children,' says Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook Country Board of Commissioners. 'They can invest in their families in ways that makes them more productive and more stable over time.'

The idea is not new. Preckwinkle notes that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Panthers called for guaranteed income. So, briefly, did President Richard Nixon. These days, some tech entrepreneurs argue that cash aid will be needed as gig work, automation and AI threaten jobs."

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From cash stipends to 'It's OK days': The cost of child care crisis is making parental benefits the top issue for over half of companies -Fortune

"As the cost of child care hits record highs, more than half of US employers are prioritizing benefits that help their staff juggle and pay for the demands of family and work.

Some 56% of companies said that child-care benefits are their most pressing issue this year, up from 46% in 2023, according to a survey from Care.com. The new perks- from an extra bank of paid time off when a kid is sick to cash stipends for a babysitter- beat out paid family leave and mental health benefits as being top of mind for corporate human resources departments.

Skyrocketing prices and dwindling options for care are squeezing parents. A full-time nanny can cost as much as $56,000 per year in big cities, and more child-care centers are on the verge of closing as pandemic-era federal aid ends. In a January speech, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said a lack of access to affordable care is one reason it's 'still too hard to be a working parent' in the US."

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Jason Kelce's retirement tears hold an important lesson for men: It's OK to cry -USA Today

"Jason Kelce is officially retiring following 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and, as viral clips of his emotional announcement show, he isn't afraid to let the world see how he really feels about it.

As the NFL player reminisced over memories with is team, brother and wife, tears streamed down his cheeks, at times forcing Kelce to pause and reflect. His brother Travis was also seen wiping away tears; there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Even people who aren't sports fans tuned into the press conference and cried with the Kelce family.

It was a vulnerable moment that got many people thinking: It's refreshing to see men cry.

Many men were taught at a young age that crying is unacceptable, and if they did shed a tear or two, they were 'weak' or 'feminine.' Bus as the Kelce brothers have so openly displayed over the years, particularly during emotional moments on their podcast New Heights and on the football field, men do cry- and not only is that OK, but it also feels good."

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West Haven schools to recognize Eid al-Fitr with day off in 2024-2025 -CT Insider

"The city's school board approved a day off on next year's calendar for the Eid al-Fitr holiday, a decision Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro said was 'long overdue.'

Currently, West Haven schools do not open for the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and the district takes a holiday break at the end of December during Christmas. About a half dozen Muslim students, who gave only their first names, told the Board of Education on Monday that having the holiday of Eid al-Fitr off from school would be beneficial to their celebration of the end of the month-long Ramadan fast." Read More

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