Workplace Culture: Unlearning Exclusive Language

60 min. duration

Description

Remember that old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”? Yeah, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Words hurt. Language matters. Being aware of the harmful origins of common words and phrases may be
the difference between fostering a safe and inclusive workplace culture and a dumpster fire of continuous employee turnover, legal issues, and that bottom line hitting an all-time low. Oddly enough, in this workshop, we’re going to talk about… talking. Join this casual conversation that explores the harmful origins of words and phrases that we use all the time, how to ‘unlearn’ some bad habits, and how to appropriately interrupt exclusive conversations in the workplace.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will:
1. Recognize outdated terms that have harmful origins
2. Explore common phrases that appropriate Indigenous culture
3. Reflect on the harms of exclusive language in terms of sexual and gender diversity
4. Understand how past experiences impact how we interpret the world around us, how we speak, and how we behave