On June 19, 2020, people and companies across America recognized Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
Hundreds of CEOs and companies stepped forward to publicly observe, honor and celebrate this historical milestone. This was a step in the right direction. But more can be and should be done to properly elevate Juneteenth as the celebration of freedom that Black people deserve.
Going forward, June 19 will look like no other Juneteenth before it. People of all ages and races will come together in solidarity.
We are seeing an entirely new generation of leaders emerging right now and they are potent.
And the private sector is critical in making this vision a reality. Businesses play a vital role not just in the lives of their employees and our communities, but in society at large.
It’s time to move beyond just words. If true change is to be made, we must act.
That is why we believe in the importance of recognizing Juneteenth as a day for employees to learn, reflect and connect with their communities.
While each of our individual companies will determine how we recognize Juneteenth and how its represented across the globe, we commit to four fundamental actions:
Making Juneteenth a paid holiday for our employees in the United States.
Identifying a relevant day in our international offices to recognize the emancipation of enslaved people.
Encouraging other leaders in business to sign this pledge, and join in making Juneteenth a recognized paid holiday.
Supporting our employee’s ability to learn, reflect, and encourage continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.
We have reached a pivotal moment in history. It is imperative that the history of injustice and promise of freedom be acknowledged, recognized and remembered globally. Just like the end of Apartheid in South Africa, and the Civil Rights movement in the United States, the events of 1865 in Texas must be celebrated.
The private sector has an opportunity to be a force for good. The time for change is now.
SIGN THE PLEDGE.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If I sign the Juneteenth Pledge, am I pledging to close my retail doors on June 19th?
While retail stores can remain open on June 19th, hourly employees who work on June 19th should be paid holiday pay, i.e. time and a half.
Who is responsible for monitoring adherence to the pledge and what companies do internationally?
Companies are expected to live up to their commitment to the pledge and provide any public reporting as appropriate.
What happens if a company signs the pledge but does not provide Juneteenth as a holiday?
Companies that sign the pledge are expected to provide Juneteenth as a paid holiday.
What exactly is meant by the second point in the pledge that asks for the identification of a relevant day in international offices to recognize the emancipation of enslaved people?
The spirit behind the second point in the pledge is for companies to take a proactive approach to identify a day similar to Juneteenth that recognizes the emancipation of enslaved people in international offices. We understand there are markets where identifying this day will be easier than others and recognition of this day can take different forms e.g. a paid-day off, a day of reflection with lectures, training programs, etc. The immediate focus of the Juneteenth Pledge is to make it a paid holiday in the US and companies that sign the pledge must work to action on the above in a timeframe and manner that is appropriate to the markets in which they operate.
Will there be any events or activities coming up that we can participate in if we sign the Juneteenth Pledge?
There are no upcoming events at this time but we will keep signers informed as to the calendar of upcoming events.
If I sign the Juneteenth Pledge, what do I get?
Companies that sign the Juneteenth Pledge get recognition on this website and social media channels and the opportunity to participate in additional campaign events to get as many companies as possible to sign the pledge.
How do I sign the Juneteenth Pledge?
Companies can sign the Juneteenth Pledge by having a designated corporate representative fill out the form at https://juneteenthpledge.com/