@5dlt+1o36xa5G …. This comment is spot on AND the underlying reason why woke@SAS is contributing to the decline of SAS. The people who promote DEI say things like “statistics prove that the more diverse your company is the better ideas you get, the better people work together and the more successful your products”.
Newsflash, SAS has had “diversity” for the past 30 or so years. It’s just not the kind of “diversity” the current woke DEI advocates love to be about gerrymandering Throughout the 1980s, 90s and well into the 2000s SAS break rooms featured a little sign that among other things read something like the following:
“SAS appreciates our employees hold strong views on politics and religion but we ask that you mostly keep these discussions away from work”.
Nevertheless, thoughtful employees from a variety of race, nationality, religious, se-ual orientation, etc. identity groups had productive discussions with one another as a matter of course. These occurred over time as people got to know each other. Personal conversations occurred, that in many cases helped create empathy and bonds between employees that increased their mutual trust and productivity. AFAICR there were no special formal “identity groups” based on any immutable characteristic, military service, etc. Sure, people of various similar backgrounds get together, eat together, Work out together, etc.
I’m not even completely against DEI. I think to the degree that it can increase empathy and help promote things like Neurodiversity, coaching people from “underrepresented” groups who really want to get into tech, etc. — these are all productive, wonderful things.
However, it is without a doubt that the higher you rise in the company, the greater your likelihood of getting promoted if you posses immutable Or gender identity characteristics aligned with current DEI initiatives.
As far as “pride” goes … I’m proud to be one of the longest serving innovators in the history of SAS. Myself and hundreds who look a lot like me are/were pillars in building SAS, right up to the present time. However, how do you think it would go over if we wanted to start and “old white geek male” DEI identity group? If your answer is “no that would be racist and s-xist” then your DEI is not truly diverse nor inclusive. Instead it is merely an action group for modern woke agendas.