The Campaign Debate

Description

A company is trying to improve their workplace culture after an incident between their employees of xenophobic comments and social media posts towards newly hired immigrant workers. The marketing department decides to launch a diversity campaign, including a series of posters featuring employees from different cultural backgrounds, smiling and working together. However, one poster features a local employee dressed in a traditional Indigenous-style outfit as representation. While the marketing department’s intention is to repair the company’s online reputation while also fostering a united, inclusive environment internally, the social work and ethics departments find the campaign culturally offensive, claiming it is cultural appropriation and ethical misrepresentation. The political communications department initially supports marketing's messaging strategy, as their interests lie in managing public perception and controlling online narratives formed based on the social media posts. However, they soon realize this controversy could create further issues long-term. The occupational health and safety department tries to de-escalate the situation by assessing intent against effect, attempting to find common ground and facilitating collaboration. All departments must work together to reach a common ground, and repair the damage that has been done to their company both internally and externally, while creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.