Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) members working at the Washington state Department of Health are calling for an end to the use of Outward Mindset, a mandatory corporate training program that discourages employees from reporting workplace discrimination or harassment.
It’s our job to provide essential health support to our fellow Washingtonians. Public service is not always easy: We do it because we care. The Outward Mindset program is a major hindrance in our work.
Being told to internalize experiences of discrimination at work is harming our coworkers, particularly those marginalized due to race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other lived experience. This “empathy training” conflicts with Washington’s Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) values, and it’s being broadly used in hiring decisions, disciplinary processes and employee evaluations.
So far, Outward Mindset has wasted $2.5 million of taxpayer money that we wish had gone toward breast cancer screenings, suicide prevention measures or additional COVID-19 response measures.
We have been outspoken on this issue, collecting hundreds of petition signatures, speaking to the media and contacting the governor.
There has been no substantive change.
Now is the time to bring this program to an end and return our focus to providing vital services to Washingtonians.
Mike Yestramski
president,
AFSCME Council 28/WFSE
WFSE Local 443
WFSE Local 304
