I’m (28M) writing this on behalf of my boyfriend (27M), who is an HR manager at a company that is extremely close-minded. The organization is almost entirely mono-ethnic, and my boyfriend, who is Black, feels quite isolated as there are very few people of color among his coworkers. Additionally, he believes some of the higher-ups might be homophobic.
He got the job thanks to his previous boss, an incredible woman who valued him for who he was and what he contributed. However, she has since left the company, and now he’s facing a challenging situation.
Recently, he received an application from a trans candidate. The candidate expressed concerns about whether they would be hired or even given a fair shot. As an HR professional, my boyfriend gave the standard DEI response: “We’re a diverse company, we value all walks of life here.” However, he knows the reality of the company’s culture and is genuinely worried that if he brings this person in, they will be mistreated or even traumatized.
He’s in a tough spot because he wants to do the right thing, but he also doesn’t want to put this candidate in a harmful environment. Any advice on how he should handle this situation?
Thanks in advance for your help.