This year’s observance of Veterans Day marks the 104th anniversary of the end of World War I, a war in which four million American soldiers served. Since that time, millions more Americans have stepped up to serve and protect our country, giving up the comforts of home, time with their families, and, in the most extreme circumstances, their very lives.

This year’s Veterans Day theme is “Honor,” something that all who serve honorably deserve. In Simply Good, the nonprofit JUST Capital takes a look at how businesses are honoring veterans by recognizing and utilizing the unique skill sets they bring to the workplace.

For many veterans, this transition is not an easy one, especially for those living with post-traumatic stress syndrome or other mental issues associated with their experiences abroad. October 10 was Mental Health Day, an observance established by the World Health Organization to raise awareness for mental health issues and to “make mental health and well-being a global priority.” Mental health issues affect all of us, whether it be our own experience or that of someone near to us. By raising and participating in conversations about mental health, we destigmatize the topic and take away its power to isolate. Instead, we can empower people by fostering environments where people can safely be their whole selves.

Speaking of fostering empowering environments, why do we excuse some forms of bias but swiftly condemn others? It’s a pattern that I see play out again and again, and the recent Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) media storm is the latest example of this disturbing phenomenon. In Simply Diversity, I raise awareness of our tendency to ignore and therefore accept forms of racism and misogyny and also provide ways to address it in the workplace.

Finally, it’s hard to believe that we’re less than two months away from 2023. That being said, do you have a DEI game plan set for the new year? If you’re a Rework Work client, keep your eyes on your inbox for an invitation to “Creating Your DEI Roadmap for 2023.” This interactive workshop, hosted by me and three other DEI experts, will help you define your next, actionable steps to increasing workplace inclusion in the coming year. Check out What’s Happening for more details.

With appreciation,

Stacey Gordon, MBA
Rework Work CEO