Best Practices

How Companies Are Engaging with the Juneteenth Holiday

June 2023
Topics Diversity Calendar & Heritage Months, Employee Experience

June also honors Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorating the emancipation of African American slaves in the United States. The day marks when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure all enslaved people be freed, because slavery in Texas continued after the 13th Amendment was passed by the US Senate. Juneteenth has long been celebrated in Black American culture, and in 2021, President Joe Biden formally marked Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Over the last few years, momentum around the holiday has built up, with companies launching programming to recognize the holiday. Now that it has been designated a federal holiday, more organizations are honoring Juneteenth through paid time off, planned volunteer activities, or discussions to build awareness around racism and disparities that disproportionately affect African Americans.

This year, Seramount asked member companies about how they structure awareness around the Juneteenth holiday and 15 companies responded. See the graphs below for summarized information from the survey. Case studies are located after the graphs (note that companies may be identified by industry only).

How long companies have offered juneteenth programming
Programming offered
15 reported they have partnerships with orgs that focus on racial justice

Allstate Insurance Company

Allstate Insurance Company reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for 2 to 4 years and offer the following to employees:

Allstate has an external partnership that focuses on racial injustice with One Ten Initiative. They aid this organization with donation drives.

Capgemini

Capgemini reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for 2 to 4 years and offer the following to employees:

Capgemini has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with Per Scholas and the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF). They aid these organizations with community impact plans (e.g., the company creates a business goal similar to a goal of the organization’s and there is mutual aid between the organizations).

To celebrate Juneteenth this year, Capgemini is planning a “Real Talk” virtual session later in June. Great employee feedback on the company’s holiday programming has inspired annual events to continue.

Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

The company also hosts a monthly webinar series; for June, the topic will center on Pride and a staff open house for a new LGBTQ+ clinic, and the Juneteenth celebration. They will also host a celebration and commemoration event held on Juneteenth for employees to learn more about the holiday that includes a celebration of Black culture, arts, and history, including musical performances and a keynote speaker.

Follow along with Cedars-Sinai’s programming on their social media platforms with the hashtag #CedarsPride.

The Estée Lauder Companies

The Estée Lauder Companies reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 to 4 years and offer the following to employees:

The Estée Lauder Companies have external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), ColorComms, and HBCUs. They aid these organizations with community impact plans. To find out more, see their update on their progress to racial equity here.

Gallagher

Gallagher reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

Gallagher has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The company primarily participates in donation drives for these organizations. Last year, the company sponsored the special event “Juneteenth: Evening at the Museum at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.”

For company events this year, some of Gallagher’s divisions are planning internal initiatives for their employees. One division is creating educational content that will be released mid-June. Gallagher will be posting on social media on Juneteenth to share an external acknowledgement of the holiday.

The general feedback from employees has been positive and they have been pleased with the company’s intentionality around communications, the paid day off, and the educational resources they have provided about the holiday.

Global Financial Company

A global financial company reported they have been engaged with Juneteenth events for the last 2 to 4 years and offer the following to employees:

This company also has partnerships with external organizations that have a focus on racial equity, including the following:

Additionally, in January 2022, this company’s more than $1 billion commitment to help support the economic empowerment of Black and Low-to-Moderate Income individuals and communities was expanded to more than $1.5 billion and was folded into the company’s community benefits plan. This enhanced commitment includes $50 million in additional charitable support for national and local work to help eliminate systemic racism and promote social justice. To determine the best way to deploy the grant funds, the regional presidents and community development professionals in each market collaborate to identify specific community needs and any nonprofit organization with which the company could partner with to maximize impact.

In honor of Juneteenth, this company will also host an internal event as part of its “Intertwinned” series that recognizes the day. At the event, Jill Savitt, president and CEO of the National Center for Civil & Human Rights (NCCHR) and The Honorable Shirley C. Franklin, former mayor of Atlanta, will join employees to share their personal and professional experiences related to Juneteenth. Several company executives will also participate in this conversation.

The company’s African American employee business resource groups (EBRGs) will also be participating in Juneteenth activities within their markets and hosting watch events for the company’s “Intertwinned” series. Other events include:

The company stated that overall employee feedback on their Juneteenth events has been positive, including being pleased with the array of events offered and the paid time off for the holiday itself.

Global Financial Services Company

A global financial services company reported that they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 to 4 years and offer the following to employees:

The company has external partnerships with organizations that focus on racial justice issues, and they offer internships/apprenticeships through the organizations.

Horizon BCBSNJ

Horizon BCBSNJ reported that they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last two years and offer the following to employees:

Horizon BCBSNJ has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice, the Tristate Diversity Council, Diversity MBA, INROADS, Braven, and ALPHA. They have initiatives with these organizations that offer internships/apprenticeships.

To celebrate the holiday, the company will be hosting a Juneteenth Cooking Demonstration for their employees.

Insurance Company

An insurance company reported that they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

The company has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with the NAACP, the Legal Defense Fund, the National FARE Housing Alliance, the Equal Justice Initiative, and the National Urban League. With these partnerships, the company hosts donation drives, offers volunteer opportunities to their employees, and aids these organizations with community impact plans.

The company reports that employee feedback on their programming choices has been positive, and shared that an event from last year with Ms. Opal Lee was a great success. Associates are excited about the annual events the company hosts.

KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP reported that they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

KPMG stated they do have external partnerships with organizations that focus on racial justice issues.

Merck & Co.

Merck & Co. reported that they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for over 5 years and offer the following to employees:

Merck has an external partnership that focuses on racial justice issues with the Ground Water Institute. The company had several leaders complete an immersive training program with the organization.

To celebrate the holiday this year, Merck is hosting the following programming:

Merck states that employees have appreciated the events hosted annually to educate everyone on Black History and honor the history of Juneteenth.

Stanford Health Care

Stanford Health Care reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

Stanford Health Care has an external partnership that focuses on racial injustice with the African American Community Service Agency. The company offers volunteer opportunities to employees for the organization’s events and initiatives.

The company reports that employee feedback has reflected excitement about the acknowledgement the company gives the holiday.

Sodexo

Sodexo reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

Sodexo has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with the Winters Group, Seramount, and the NAACP. The company offers volunteer opportunities to employees for the organizations’ events and initiatives, and they aid these organizations with community impact plans.

To celebrate Juneteenth, Sodexo is hosting an Unexpected Virtual Tour—a 60-minute interactive experience that highlights the story behind Juneteenth from the 1800s to the present day, with a look at how barbecue has always been a celebration food. Employees will have two in-studio guides to facilitate the event, plus guides in Hampton, VA, and Austin, TX, who will show important landmarks relevant to emancipation live during the event.

Unity

Unity reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 to 4 years and offer the following to employees:

Unity has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with the Management Leadership of Tomorrow and the Equal Justice Initiative. The company largely performs donation drives for these organizations.

To celebrate Juneteenth this year, Unity will be hosting a wine and paint event that supports a Black owned business.

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported they have been engaged with their Juneteenth programming for the last 2 years and offer the following to employees:

WWF has external partnerships that focus on racial injustice with WeACT, the World Resources Institute, the Dr. Bullard Environmental Center, and Blacks in Environment. The company offers internship/apprenticeship programs through their partnerships.

This year, the company will celebrate Juneteenth with employees with several ERG-hosted events for ERG members and hosting an African American Cultural Museum visit.

Related Content
Best Practices
July 26, 2016
2017 Campus Recruitment Strategy & Minority Students
Book
October 25, 2016
HR Executive Diversity Primer
Best Practices
May 16, 2017
Employer Branding: Using Diversity & Inclusion Strategies and Branding to Win the Talent War