Best Buy faces boycott over leadership programs that exclude white employees



Best Buy is facing a boycott over offering "leadership" programs that are only available to non-white employees, according to a report.

A whistleblower shared screenshots of an alleged internal Best Buy company memo regarding "management leadership academy programs" with the O’Keefe Media Group. The programs are a partnership between Best Buy and global management consultant McKinsey & Company.

The programs provide employees with "critical skills that will enhance their leadership through a mini-MBA style curriculum."

The leadership programs allegedly exclude white employees.

"We're excited to announce awesome news about the McKinsey professional development programs! As a part of Best Buy's commitment to develop and support our employees, we've partnered with McKinsey & Company to offer the McKinsey Leadership Programs," states the reported memo from Best Buy. "These professional development programs customize its curriculum and discussions to the unique situations, experiences and opportunities of diverse professionals."

One of the purported requirements to be considered for the leadership programs was that candidates must "identify as black, Latino, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander."

According to the online application for the leadership programs, two questions ask if applicants are black, Latino, Hispanic, Asian, or Pacific Islander to advance.

The O’Keefe Media Group shared alleged screenshots of the memo and the application on Twitter with the caption: "A citizen journalist has revealed Best Buy is partnering with McKinsey & Company on a Management Training Program. The program is not open to white applicants. 'Candidates must meet the [racial] requirements below.'"

— (@)

The electronics company announced the diversity initiative on the Best Buy corporate website in July 2022. Best Buy said the leadership programs would help "establish a diverse workforce."

"As part of Best Buy’s commitment to develop and support our employees who identify as black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC), we’ve partnered with McKinsey & Company to offer the McKinsey Management Accelerator program," the Best Buy website reads.

"The McKinsey Management Accelerator program focuses on professional career development by customizing its curriculum and discussions to the unique situations, experiences and opportunities of BIPOC professionals," the site states.

"The McKinsey Accelerator Program has been a great challenge for my leadership skillset. Having other people of color in the program took away the facade I’ve always had to bear as a minority and allowed me to participate as a true student without having to worry about how I appear as a person of color in a space," said Joslyn Knight – Best Buy distribution operations support senior analyst.

Best Buy started utilizing the McKinsey Accelerator Program in 2020 with one course for black employees and has since expanded the program to include Hispanic, Latino, and Asian employees.

McKinsey & Company says on its website: "We are defined by our people and are deeply committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture."

"At McKinsey, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just moral imperatives, they are integral to our dual mission – to help our clients make substantial, lasting performance improvements and to build a firm that attracts, develops, excites, and retains exceptional people," the McKinsey & Company website states.

The consulting company also prioritizes climate change.

"A healthy society depends on a healthy planet, and climate change is putting both at risk. That’s why, in addition to serving clients and sharing insights, McKinsey has committed to achieving net-zero climate impact by 2030," the site says. "We're not alone on our journey to help build a more sustainable and inclusive future, and there will be challenges – but we all need to do more, together."

There were calls to boycott Best Buy on social media. One Twitter user declared, "It's time to Bud Light Best Buy."

Best Buy did not respond to a request for comment from TheStreet.

Best Buy faced controversy in 2021 when it offered "mental health resources" and "counseling services" to employees distressed over Kyle Rittenhouse being acquitted of all charges from the shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

"The verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial stirs many emotions, and it's another difficult moment for our nation," said Mark Irvin, the chief inclusion, diversity, and talent officer for Best Buy.

"While these events can be challenging and deeply hurtful, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on the values that unite us as a company and as a nation," Irvin continued. "We can do better, as each of us as individuals, allies, and human beings press together for better outcomes."

"I know events like these can take a toll on mental health and emotional well-being," Irwin claimed. "Please know that best Buy is here to support you."

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Levi Strauss and Best Buy offer counseling to employees distressed over Rittenhouse acquittal, including session with 'racial trauma specialist'



After Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges from the Kenosha shooting, Best Buy and Levi Strauss reportedly offered their employees counseling to those distressed over the verdict. Levi's offered a session with a "racial trauma specialist" for workers distraught over the acquittal of Rittenhouse — who is white — shooting three white men who assailed him.

Elizabeth Morrison — Levi's chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer — sent an email to employees of the San Francisco-based clothing company following the Rittenhouse verdict in Wisconsin.

"With the news that Kyle Rittenhouse was not convicted in the shooting of three individuals — two of whom lost their lives — during racial justice protests last year, this is a difficult day for many," the email read.

"The pain and trauma of race, identity and belief-based tragedies is a reality that many of us are struggling with on an ongoing basis," Morrison stated. "It can feel physically, mentally and emotionally draining to continue to relive these moments, and I want you to know, it's okay to not be okay."

"To help promote safety, sharing and to encourage healing, I'll be hosting a fireside chat and Q&A with Dr. Jamila Codrington, a licensed psychologist and racial trauma specialist in early December," the DEI head wrote. "Dr. J and I will talk about the mental and psychical impacts of back-to-back social and racial justice events and trauma coping mechanisms during our discussion."

Morrison advised employees pained by the verdict to seek a "trained counsel." She also recommended workers use "resources to help [employees] impact social justice, equality and drive positive change," including "getting educated and informed on the issue of gun violence" and "reaching out to your elected officials to let them know just how important common-sense gun laws are to you."

In 2018, Levi Strauss partnered with gun control organization Everytown for Gun Safety and Bloomberg to push for stricter gun regulations.

A spokesperson for Levi Strauss confirmed to Fox Business that the "email was sent to all US employees and that the purpose of the fireside chat is accurately described in the email."

Levi Strauss & Co sent out a notice to their employees offering a therapy session with a \u201cracial trauma specialist\u201d to learn \u201ctrauma coping mechanisms\u201d after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdictpic.twitter.com/9rSXRqZzbN
— Libs of Tik Tok (@Libs of Tik Tok) 1637786866

Best Buy is reportedly also offering "mental health resources" and "counseling services" to employees distressed over the Rittenhouse acquittal.

"The verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial stirs many emotions, and it's another difficult moment for our nation," reportedly wrote Mark Irvin, the chief inclusion, diversity, and talent officer for Best Buy.

"While these events can be challenging and deeply hurtful, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on the values that unite us as a company and as a nation," Irvin said, according to The Post Millennial. "We can do better, as each of us as individuals, allies, and human beings press together for better outcomes."

"I know events like these can take a toll on mental health and emotional well-being," he stated. "Please know that best Buy is here to support you."

Irvin then provided links to "mental health resources" and "counseling services" that are offered by the company's employee benefits.

Best Buy sent out a notice offering their employees counseling services after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdictpic.twitter.com/a3RRmLvmxl
— Libs of Tik Tok (@Libs of Tik Tok) 1637713875

Small crowds, fewer deals, no chaos, shoppers say Black Friday is nothing like it used to be this year



Reports are coming in from all over the country that the long lines, buzzing crowds, and general chaos typical of Black Friday shopping is ... nearly non-existent this year.

While people are showing up at retail stores to shop in-person in far greater numbers than last year — before COVID-19 vaccines were widely available — shoppers and local news outlets posting to social media reported shorter lines and less chaos this Friday.

Goood #BlackFriday morning, Orlando! The shopping here began just a few ago, at 5! Not a huge crowd, counted 31 in line just moments before open. @MyNews13pic.twitter.com/ZVzvvtJyfx
— Ashleigh Mills (@Ashleigh Mills) 1637922072

Popular big box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, which are offering large sales and Black Friday deals today, are seeing moderate crowds, but nothing like the stampedes featured in viral videos in years past.

Black Friday shopping lines are forming outside many stores in Baton Rouge. We\u2019re live at Best Buy where doors just opened at 5 a.m.pic.twitter.com/WRaNih7Wrq
— Cali Hubbard (@Cali Hubbard) 1637925300
Happy #BlackFriday from @Walmart in Elk Grove! Here\u2019s what it looked like right when the doors opened at 5am. No campers this year but one of the first people in line told me he got here at 1am! He said this line was nothing compared to the past 12 years. @ABC10pic.twitter.com/hi8iohkFxY
— Lena Howland (@Lena Howland) 1637934362

Shoppers that spoke to Insider said they were able to get in and out of retail stores quickly, with one claiming they found what they wanted and were out in under 10 minutes. Another man said there were about 100 people in line at a Walmart store in Harrisonville, Missouri and that he was able to get in and out in about 40 minutes.

Right side of Walmart, long line. Left side of Walmart, I stroll up and the gentlemen unlocks the door. I casually walk in, walked to the deals table\u2026 got the super duper cheap air pods. Paid. Walked out. Everyone was super nice. Zero chaos
— Geoff (@Geoff) 1637926621

"It's so empty and bare, which is kind of nice. There's not crazy people, although we did just see a lady with a stroller full of bags and no child," said Tabitha Turner, a shopper who spoke to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about her experience at the North East Mall in Hurst, Texas.

"The crowds are much easier. Lines are simple, which is not quite as fun. I always enjoyed the people fighting over parking spaces and yelling at people for the last toy … We're missing the hustle and bustle of all the crazy people … It was a blast and it was fun to have to deal with all the craziness."

Customers in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania shared similar stories with WOLF-TV.

"Very calm. There is no traffic even. Which is amazing cause usually you see a lot of that, but no traffic. Like I said 2 minutes in line at Walmart, but I was right in the store able to get everything, no chaos," said Tina Merrifield of Jessup.

Some shoppers expressed disappointment with the quality of the deals this year, or with the unavailability of certain items because of ongoing supply chain issues. Many retailers warned customers in recent weeks to get their shopping done early because popular items would not be available. In one video, a worker at Best Buy told those waiting in line to buy the Playtation 5 early; Friday morning the store was out-of-stock.

"Black Friday is a total bust," complained Vince Langman of Chicago on Twitter. "The deals suck and there's literally more workers at Target than shoppers."

Wow Black Friday is a total bust \nThe deals suck and there's literally more workers at Target than shoppers \nNot one person in linepic.twitter.com/D9EIZI4C1n
— Vince Langman (@Vince Langman) 1637940259

While there may be fewer discounts this year, other shoppers were happy to miss the typical Black Friday crowds.

"I don't want to get mixed up in any of that chaos," said Hannah Smith, of Iowa, while shopping on Thursday.