Take a pay cut for a job that doesn’t break your soul?
Welcome to Inclusion Is Leadership, a biweekly infusion of insights, research, and guidance to create inclusive workplaces. Created by Ruchika Tulshyan, inclusive leadership advisor, founder of Candour and author of Inclusion On Purpose.
Hilliary Turnipseed’s new job pays $30,000 less than in her last job.
And she couldn’t be happier.
Hilliary could do a lot with an extra $30,000 a year. So what about her new job could possibly make her excited to have taken a significant pay cut?
Flexible hours, employee appreciation, and a consciously inclusive workplace to name a few reasons.
Hilliary’s experience with bias and toxicity as one of the only Black women in her last job catalyzed her to prioritize an inclusive work culture over salary.
I predict that more women of color will follow her lead. It's already happening.
*Cue Beyonce's latest song.*
I acknowledge that placing mental and emotional well-being before pay is not always an easy — or possible — choice to make, especially for women of color.
More than 4 out of 5 Black women are the breadwinners in their households. More women of color live in poverty than white women. And without an adequate financial safety net, many of us are forced to grin and bear toxic workplaces.
Until we can’t.
Most women of color I’ve spoken to eventually leave a discriminatory workplace once the emotional, physical and mental toll of working in such an environment becomes too much to endure.
You simply can’t put a price tag on being heard, seen and valued at your job.
Millennials, in general, are increasingly choosing inclusive workplaces over higher pay.
A whopping 80% say that inclusion is a factor when choosing an employer, and 39% would leave their jobs right now for a more inclusive workplace.
Leaders will ignore these stats at their peril. If they want to attract top talent to their organizations, it’s clear they need to focus on inclusion.
Job seekers want more than just company-wide inclusion and diversity programs. They’re looking for leaders and peers who intentionally demonstrate inclusive behaviors day to day.
Inclusion on purpose is a big deal now and will only become more important in the future.
Talented job seekers — especially women of color — are looking for clues indicating an inclusive culture.
In my next issue of Inclusion is Leadership I'll talk about 5 inclusive hiring guidelines. Subscribers to the private version of Inclusion is Leadership will get exclusive access, and you can subscribe here.
Have you ever left a well-paying job for a more inclusive environment? I’d love to hear your experience. Hit reply to share your stories. I can’t wait to read them and be inspired by you!
I also want to say that not a day has gone by since Inclusion on Purpose launched that I haven't felt humbled by the response to my book. That extra effort so many of you have taken to reinforce and amplify my work...I don't have words to describe how much it means to me.
Thank you, Monique, for your review.
And if you’d like to leave one, here’s a link to Amazon and/or Goodreads. Thank you, I appreciate your time and amplification!
Diversity is a Fact. Equity is a Choice. Inclusion is an Action. Belonging is an outcome I Cultural Intelligence (CQ®) Certified Facilitator I EDI consultant I EDI content creator
1yAnd so important, not only will it change the narrative as the toxic places won’t get the best people but more importantly it is so important for your well-being
Integrating Sustainability and Diversity into Business Procurement | Social Purpose Entrepreneur | Environmental & Social Justice Advocate 🌎
1yI wish it didn’t require a pay cut! But there will be shifts in the market that elevate purpose driven and conscientious businesses if a lot of people are willing to do this— and shop/patronize these types of businesses as well.
Psychologist | Executive coach + Consultant | Speaker Leveraging science + best practices to effect change and growth for people, teams and organizations, with the thread of diversity and inclusion throughout
1yIt is amazing how many organizations are doing nothing or very little to truly be inclusive. When it comes to DEI, the only difficult barrier is resistance to DEI - and ultimately organizations are going to lose out on talent, and tarnish their reputations. I definitely left a good job due to lack of inclusion - and worse - as did many of my colleagues. I was lucky in that after a couple of years I was eventually able to transition into owning my own business - and have never felt more included!
Founder & CEO | mom of happy young adults | author🔥| #bcorp | #womanowned | Graham & Walker investor | Startup Experts member | ex Amazon | ex Microsoft
1yYes, I left a high paying corporate job not once but twice in search of better balance and a workplace that would be more inclusive of me as a working mom with young kids. The second time I left a significant amount of stock on the table. I put my total compensation up on my screen and said good-bye to it, promising myself I would have no regrets. That job was no longer sustainable with a family - not for all the money in the world. Eventually I went out on my own and I've been happy every single day since I started Reverb. I can literally count on one hand the number of bad days I've had in seven years. This year, I reached and exceeded my former compensation. I strive for the day when women can have jobs that aren't soul crushing *without* the pay cut 🚫💸✂️
I leverage applied neuroscience to help leaders skill up to manage discomfort so that they can become more inclusive and effective.
1yI took a big pay cut to take a job in a more inclusive environment, that welcomed employee development, had a great boss, and allowed me to learn a different job in a supportive way. The new company was not without flaws, and in some ways there was a bubble around me that was protective, but I was able to master the space because I felt supported and not isolated. Also, I felt my boss celebrated my differences, and saw potential in me and invested time with me to coach and mentor me.