Exxon Mobil will no longer allow banners from outside organizations on its flagpoles, much to the chagrin of some employees who have flown a rainbow flag in the past.
The new policy only allows government flags and those representing Exxon Mobil and its employee resource groups, which are led by affinity affiliate organizations that are usually blessed by employers. Employees can display the flags of pride and representations of other groups such as Black Lives Matter on other parts of the company’s property, including lawns or digital spaces.
“It has been a long-standing practice in our facilities around the world for ERG flags to be flown during the signing months,” said Tracy Gunlaugsson, vice president of human resources at Exxon Mobil. “The flags are directly related to our business and the company’s support of our ERGs”
The LGBT Employees’ Resource Group logo includes balloons filled with several colors around the word PRIDE. This logo is distributed in offices and is used on T-shirts that employees wear to pride parades.
Exxon’s current employees declined to comment. J. Chris Martin, a former employee who previously headed the resource group, said that a different flag with the Exxon logo against the backdrop of the rainbow “flutters in many parts of the company no doubt”, but that he was told that this approval shows that the flag has been canceled “without explanation”.
“I was also told that staff resource groups were consulted only superficially on the issue, based on the momentary discomfort of displaying a symbol of impartiality and support for long-suppressed votes,” he said.
“Although they may say that no one has lost anything, the symbolism is infallible,” he added.
The Human Rights Campaign, an organization that works to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, criticized the company for its policy, saying on Twitter: “There is no such thing as ‘neutrality’ when it comes to our rights. Our flag is not just a visual representation of our identity. This is also a key element of the alliance. “
The decision, first reported by Bloomberg News, came as corporations were increasingly pressured to be more outspoken on cultural and political issues. Disney, long silent on such issues, is fighting with Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida for a new state law, officially known as “Parental Rights in Education” – or, for his critics, “Don’t say gay.” The measure bans classroom teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity in some primary school classes. Disney opposed the law, prompting Mr. DeSantis and state lawmakers to repeal the special tax designation used by Disney in the state.
Exxon has long been considered an enemy of gay rights, especially after merging with Mobil and eliminating the company’s policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and provide benefits for same-sex couples. Since then, Exxon has reinstated these policies and its rating in the Corporate Equality Index of the Human Rights Campaign has risen to 85 out of 100 in 2022 from a negative 25.
Clifford Kraus contributed to the reports.
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