MISSION STATEMENT
The FS DEI Team works to create an anti-racist work environment. We provide actionable recommendations to the leadership team, help to create a system of accountability, and engage our department as a whole in order to build a workplace that is safe, welcoming and supportive for all Facilities Services employees.
Vision Statement
1) We serve to identify, combat and address the ways that anti-Blackness exists and is perpetuated within our department.
2) We work toward the standardization of practices, processes, and policies that promote equity, and fairness in hiring, promotion and evaluation of FS team members and leadership.
What we do
Known by its acronym, the FS DEI Team formed in response to the events of the summer of 2020, including the George Floyd killing and the Black Lives Matter movement. The group was formed to look into and address racism and bias in Facilities Services and to recommend action aimed at improving the diversity, equity and inclusion for all of us. We want to share with staff what we’ve been doing and to extend an invitation to you to join us, or to contact us with any questions or concerns. We can be reached at fsdeihelp@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)
FS HIRING PRACTICES
The FS DEI Team’s first task was to identify issues and concerns regarding potential bias and discrimination in FS operations, practices and policies. One issue which emerged as a priority was the question of whether FS has inclusive and unbiased hiring practices and job advancement opportunities. The group invited Bahar Foltz, as a representative of FS HR’s hiring process, to meet with us. She presented a detailed breakdown of the processes HR follows, the efforts they make to get the word out about open positions, and the steps they take to eliminate bias in hiring. The team has developed some recommendations that we feel will reduce the impacts of implicit bias and improve staff perceptions of the integrity of the hiring process here at FS. We are currently working with HR to implement these changes.
The group is also looking into such things as sharing job postings more broadly and making sure that staff members have opportunities for personal and career development.
VOLUNTEER TO BE ON AN INTERVIEW PANEL
Everyone at FS is invited to participate in interviewing job applicants. All you need to do to be eligible is to complete the following two online courses from the Learning Center:
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Managing Implicit Bias in the Hiring Process(link is external)
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Search Advisory and Hiring Committee Best Practices(link is external)
Once you’ve completed these 2 trainings, email Bahar at bfoltz@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) that you’d be interested in participating on an interview panel.