The latest company to immerse its entire existence into ‘diversity’ nonsense is, you guessed it, the pet superstore Pets At Home.
Ok, you didn’t guess it, but it has.
The UK chain of pet stores has issued its thousands of employees with materials that hammer into them the way they must think on topics including gender identity, using the ‘correct pronouns’, ‘white privilege’, and how being “childless” is also a privilege.
Once again, this has only come to light because a concerned employee sent the materials to James Esses, who previously exposed the lunacy going on behind the scenes at retail giant John Lewis.
Esses has written up an in depth analysis of everything he found in the Pets At Home internal material, but here follows a summary.
A ‘diversity and inclusion’ handbook was provided to all staff outlining policies and terms they must adhere to, with the company calling it “our expectations of you as one of our colleagues”.
The handbook notes “We ask that you support diversity and inclusion everyday by recognising that your individual actions will impact on others and that you have a responsibility to help us create opportunities for diverse people in an inclusive environment”.
It goes on to provide a glossary of ‘diverse’ terms, some of which presume staff are stupid and do not know what black people are.
Other terms in the glossary include ‘cisgender’, ‘Gender fluid’, ‘Intersectionality’, ‘LGBTQ+’, ‘Non-binary’, ‘Psychological safety’, ‘Transitioning’, and ‘Transphobia’.
The book also covers ‘White privilege’, defining it as “The unquestioned and unearned set of advantages and benefits bestowed on people because they are white”.
Esses notes that “Both the tone and content of this statement are shocking. To suggest to white members of staff that they are inherently privileged, knowing nothing about their personal set of circumstances, is unconscionable.”
He adds that “While Pets at Home are at pains to ensure adherence to this terminology, they seem quite content to erase the concept of what it means to be a woman. For example, in their policy on maternity leave, they have replaced the word ‘woman’ with “pregnant person” and “someone who is pregnant” Disgraceful.”
Esses then describes how “In a staff webinar on ‘Allyship’, the facilitator begins by reeling off her list of privileges, like some sort of cult-like ritual. She states: “My privilege is that I’m a white, straight, non-disabled, childless, married, economically stable, homeowner, living in a developed country”.“
“Hold on a minute. Childless?” Esses continues, adding “This Pets at Home facilitator actually told staff members that to be childless is to be ‘privileged’. How ‘privileged’ does a couple unable to have children feel? And what does it say to parents, suggesting that having children is some sort of handicap.” This sentiment is outrageous and offensive. Yet, this is what Pets at Home are pushing on their staff.”
The guidelines then lecture employees about using “correct pronouns,” how they should wear badges stating their pronouns and ask other employees what their pronouns are.
Blatantly pushing compelled speech and thought, while this is“not mandatory”, the book explains “the more of us who choose to do so, the more normalised it becomes and means individuals are less likely to feel singled out. Please show respect by using the correct pronouns”.
There’s some sort of ‘diversity’ wheel pie chart thing that includes all the ‘non-mandatory’ stuff employees must consider.
The book also asks staff to“consider asking suppliers about their own approach to diversity and inclusion. Choosing suppliers who value diversity and inclusion helps us to have a wider positive impact”.
Imagine being someone who supplies hay or whatever bedding for a hamster’s cage and being asked to first provide a ‘diversity policy’ by this store before they can make an order.
Insanity.
Back to the handbook… there is the ever present ‘diversity and inclusion calendar’ which informs staff what LGBTQ+ days they should look out for, which is basically every day of the year.
Then there is a document titled ‘Transitioning at Work Policy’ which vows to“provide guidance for colleagues and Line Managers…and sets out expectations…when supporting colleagues at work who are transitioning.”
It informs staff that trans is “An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, genderqueer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, bi-gender, trans man, trans woman, trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois”.
The company also outlines behaviour they deem “unacceptable” including “asking intrusive questions about somebody’s gender identity” and daring to“display or circulate offensive material relating to somebody’s gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics, for example by email or via social media, or about those topics in general.”
Esses notes that “This flies completely in the face of freedom of speech as staff members are told that they cannot comment on issues or concerns relating to gender ideology, in general, in their personal lives. This is cult-like suppression of dissent.”
What the hell has any of this got to do with selling products for dogs and cats?
Nothing, but because of lobbying and promises of rewards from the likes of advocacy groups such as Stonewall, these companies have embraced the belief that everyone in their employ must be made compliant with THE MESSAGE.
Esses concludes by noting “It does not seem to matter what business area we are looking at. Whether it is transport, coffee, homeware or pets, every single industry appears to have been captured by individuals who, whether for activism or profit, are choosing to force gender ideology upon their staff members and customers. What will it take for us to finally say that enough is enough?”
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I worked there a couple of years ago and back then the D&I was bad but this has taken it to a whole new level
“White privilege?” Go back to your country, then.
Say “No” to
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o
m
o.
looks like we will get rid of british army without fight.
Strange that they want to fight for israel, while jews want to get rid of them.
I see bankruptcy in its future.
Sooner would be better than later.
Anyone who thinks it is OK to bind a child’s chest should have their heads bound to the railroad tracks.
Never heard of this store. If there were one near me, I’d boycott it.
Let’s hope there’s a huge backlash from employees. Eventually, I am quite certain, there will come a time when this nonsense won’t fly.
If they are so concerned about white privilege, they should immediately quit their job, move out into the street, donate all their money to the nearest illegal immigrant and enter a life of sexual servitude to whoever wants it instead of lecturing other people about their own personal insecurities.
Sounds like someone who has nothing better to do because they’re single and alone with no kids. Probably for the same reason they’re writing all that crap.
It goes deeper than that sadly. No compliance means no access to financial support from banks where signed up to same BS agenda