by Guy Page
Gov. Phil Scott stands behind the need for equity and diversity training of state employees, but said he is unaware of any plans to implement an ‘equity audit’ on state employees, as reported yesterday.
Vermont Daily Chronicle asked Gov. Scott at today’s press conference:
“Yesterday we published a first-person account about a state employee who underwent the mandatory equity and diversity training. He said the instructor refused to take any questions, saying questions are self-serving, said that being color-blind is racist, and that the nuclear family was something ‘pushed on us’ by the white power structure. This employee said he has been threatened twice with job termination for questioning this instruction and also says a coming ‘equity audit’ on state employees will feature an ‘inclusion score that measures employee level of belonging in the work environment.’ Do you support an ‘equity audit’ and do you have any concerns about how the equity and diversity training is being carried out?”
“This is something new. I have not heard about this,” Gov Scott replied. “Sounds like an HR issue.” Regarding the need for equity and diversity training, he said, “I think its important. It’s something we need to be aware of and sensitive to.”
“We can always improve,” Scott said. As with the successful statewide vaccination effort, the focus should “not be forcing people but educating them.”
“I am not aware of the equity audit,” Scott concluded. “We’ll take a look.”