Posted on 05/24/2005 3:07:13 PM PDT by 4Sonic
From the Senior VP of People and Communications to all Sonic Employees
----- Original Email -------
What a wonderful All-Employee Lunch we experienced last Friday! Hearing our friends from the Hispanic community sing and teach us a bit about their culture was entertaining, enlightening and inspiring. The food was terrific (thanks to Café Tom and Café Don) and overall, it made Friday the 13th a very good day indeed!
As we look ahead to June, the Culture of Inclusion Committee (COI) has had many long conversations about our focus on Gay Pride. June is typically Gay Pride month across the United States which is why we chose this group of people to spotlight.
We recognize that learning about the Gay Community is a challenging subject for some people. That said, in the spirit of inclusion and to reiterate Sonic's desire to serve all customers and to provide an inclusive workplace for all of our employees (and prospective employees) we're going to move ahead with our focus. As we've done with every other group of people we've featured since January, there will be educational stories in the Tater Tot Tattler and the TatToo. As for the All-Employee Lunch, we have decided that rather than have a presentation by representatives from the Gay Community, instead we would acknowledge the difficulty that some have with this subject matter and answer your questions, as a committee, regarding the Gay focus and inclusion at Sonic.
As a way for you to anonymously ask your questions, the COI Committee arrived at this solution: Anyone who has a comment or question should write it in a Word document and drop it (anonymously or not) into one of several boxes that will be located in the break rooms and in one other location on each floor. As well, there will be two boxes located in the Sonic Café for your convenience. The boxes will be ready to receive your comments/questions by the end of the day, Thursday, May 19th. As for the field-based people, the suggestion is that you also craft a Word document, except place your comment or question in a sealed envelope marked "June Luncheon," and drop it into your routine mailings to either Verlinda, Tiffany or Joan, for arrival no later than June 8th. They will place your envelopes into one of the boxes located throughout the building.
On the day of our All-Employee Lunch, which is Friday, June 10, the Culture of Inclusion Committee will respond to all appropriate questions and/or comments. As well, there will possibly be a representative from the Gay Community in Oklahoma City who is conversant with the economic impact of the Gay Community both nationally and locally who can answer questions relative to those topics. As with all of our employee lunches, attendance is voluntary and your choice to attend or not should never be questioned by peers or supervisors. We understand that this may be a religious issue for many of you, and that's okay. We respect your religious beliefs and would no more ask you to change those beliefs than we would ask someone else to try to change their race, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Likewise, we ask that you show that same respect for others whose differences may not align with your beliefs. Your representatives on the COI Committee recognize that this topic will likely generate buzz throughout the company. As a committee, we agreed, that buzz is not a bad thing. Healthy, respectful dialog is always encouraged; acting out inappropriately about any subject we tackle is discouraged.
As Cliff said on Friday, the intention of the Culture of Inclusion Committee is to help educate us about diversity and inclusion, and to help us understand the biases that we may have as a result of our differences. It's when we recognize the value of our differences and leave our biases at the door when we arrive at work each day, that we can engage in vibrant, healthy working relationships with all Sonic co-workers regardless of who we are or what our differing points of view may be. As a retail brand that serves all kinds of people, and as an employer which seeks to hire the best talent available, it is crucial to the vitality of our business that we strive for a culture that welcomes all people.
As we continue on this journey of education about inclusion and diversity, we hope that you are challenged and able to experience personal growth regardless of the culture or group we're studying.
Nancy
Sonic Corporation is spending the entire month of June educating its employees the Gay & Lesbian lifestyle. Not only that, Sonic has become the first major employer in Oklahoma City to offer "Partner Benefits" to its employees.
The genesis of this change is the Senior VP of People & Communications who has herself been the focus of several same-sex sexual harassment complaints since her hiring in 2001.
I am heartbroken that employees at a company that once prided itself on its culture of family values has become the number one recruiter and promoter of Gays and Lesbians in the city.
While I am all for tolerance and non-discrimination what is going on within the walls of this company is anything but tolerant. In fact, anyone with concerns or objections is quickly warned that any public comments will result in immediate termination.
Welcome to Free Republic!
Diversity is perversity, tolerance is is bigotry turned inward, and people who really think like this suffer from the worst kind of denial.
Time to sell!!
They don't want "tolerance"...they want you to CELEBRATE it.
I fail to see the value of engaging in rump riding. Tolerate perversity? Nah, I'd be looking for new employment asap. It's their company to ruin.
Interesting first post
kinda like "virgin sacrifice" in the old days. eh?
Lee Ann Bratten
Director, Communications
SONIC Corp.
lbratten@sonicdrivein.com
(405) 225-5000
------------------------------------------------------
Lori Hardy
Account Supervisor
Barkley Evergreen & Partners, Inc.
Public Relations
lhardy@beap.com
(816) 842-1500
Gay-friendly = decency-hostile
You mean I gotta stop eatin my # 2 super sonic cheesburger with jalopenas along with a genuine chocolate malt and sonic size fries? I am shocked, I tell you, shocked!!!
Companies are only pretend to care about diversity because it will bring them an extra buck.
I'll trade you a Sen Byrd for a Sonic president?/sarc
But, then again they were talking about Oklahoma and everyone knows Oklahoma sucks, it is the only thing keeping Texas from sliding into the Gulf!
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Number one, keep the ol' bird. We don't want him.
Number two....I searched and couldn't find, what was posted here, in the public domain. It appears to be a "in-house" memo. When/if they go public with it...I might agree with you...Until then, I don't.
FRegards,
Isn't Sonic the one with the 2 gay guys in the car? Really, really stupid. Seems they run them a lot during sports shows.
The way I hear it...is the reason all the Okie wheat and corn along the border leans south...is that TX sucks.
But I could be mistaken.....
Heh,heh,heh....
Alrighty then, I'll have to stuff the ol byrd back in the septic tank.
Good place for him.........(g)
Oh well, their food is crap anyway.
I beg your pardon, I happen to be saddened that I no longer can enjoy a sonic burger, as fast food goes they are one of the best.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.