16 Jun Workplace Hostility in the Age of Trump: Why Two Trainings Are More Urgent Than Ever

While the recent attacks on DEI by the Trump regime are filled with lies and untruths, many companies have shown their true nature by dismantling or rolling back their commitments to upholding the value of a diverse workplace and creating inclusive and equitable environments for their employees. This led to the boycotts of companies such as Target, Walmart, and Amazon, which are losing more than just dollars.

In January 2025, Target, Walmart, and Amazon announced they would no longer support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The response from the American public? A staggering 12 billion dollars decrease in revenue in just two months. This is only the beginning. 

On March 5th, 2025, the Congressional Black Caucus called for a nationwide boycott of companies that no longer support programs fostering DEI in the workplace. Elmer Dixon, president of Executive Diversity Services and a former Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer, as well as a Seattle Black Panther, believes in the power of the Black dollar. He says, “To wake them [large corporations] up, we need them to understand that we matter as Black people.” 

Dixon believes it is essential to target companies that have reneged on their previous commitments to DEI values. “We’re going to hold them accountable, and the Black dollar is the only way of doing that. Not just for Black people, but for people of color, women, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” he says. 

Dixon’s career is deeply rooted in advocacy. He worked as an Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for 6 years in the public sector, where amplifying the presence of women in the trade industry was a primary objective. Protecting women against sexual harassment, investigating claims of sexual harassment, and even holding such perpetrators accountable were key to one of his largest roles as an EEO officer. 

Dixon also trained the department’s 1,000 employees on anti-sexual harassment policies. He didn’t just teach them how to recognize sexual harassment, but he taught people to stand up against it to ensure these situations wouldn’t happen again. 

“Companies must nip this at its root,” notes Dixon. He believes everything this administration is doing will bleed into the workplace – it’s just a matter of time. For Dixon, situations like these emerge from a hostile work environment, where sexism, racism, and homophobia can run rampant. And now, with Trump’s rhetoric emboldening bad actors, the urgency has only grown. Employees deserve a company that defends them. “If companies fail to protect their employees, they are liable if they do not immediately stop enabling this behavior,” says Dixon.

Dixon believes the solution isn’t just protest–it’s education. To that effect, Dixon and Executive Diversity Services, which he heads up, is offering two courses to combat this problem. One course, “The Respectful Workplace,” teaches employees how to value differences, understand what constitutes a disrespectful workplace, and keep these toxic situations from happening. 

Dixon notes, “We provide them with the opportunity to explore and learn how damaging a disrespectful workplace is, as well as what they can do to work to create and build a more respectful workplace.” But in today’s climate, fostering internal respect isn’t enough. “As Trump has called out DEI as ‘illegal’ and ‘immoral’, many have taken an assault on DEI to act out on their racism,” notes Dixon. That’s why Dixon’s second course expands the conversation beyond office walls.

“Serving Difficult Clients” equips employees with the tools to manage challenging clients and understand misinterpreted cultural differences. Just last May, a Black woman was forced to leave a Delta Flight with her daughter when she was wrongly accused of being confrontational and difficult just because she looked at a flight attendant.

Categorizing race with misbehavior is unfair and harmful, and normalizing this doesn’t just endanger people of color, but it also harms other people who may be perceived differently because of a lack of understanding of different communication styles or behavioural differences. In environments where people are constantly disrespected, these become grounds for a hostile work environment. Trump’s own behavior and his policies enables bad behavior which can create a hostile work environment.

If you are in the workforce, Dixon believes you need to ask yourself, ‘How can I work more effectively with someone from a different culture? Or, what tools do I have that can allow me to manage someone I perceive as a difficult type of person?’ The course clarifies how to distinguish the differences between different cultural styles and behaviors from someone who represents one of the types of difficult people, and how to manage them in the workplace. 

Right now, companies are at risk.  Companies are increasingly facing the risk of lawsuits more than ever. Trump has shaped a culture that emboldens people to disrespect others without reason or consequence.

Dixon emphasizes the need for proactive change, “As Rodney King said back in the 80s, ‘Why can’t we all just get along? We don’t want people fighting.” We cannot afford to ignore these groups who need collective support to preserve their rights. 

Dixon concludes: “We are in a historical moment where freedom of speech, freedom of education, and the right to pursue an education of your choice are all at risk. We must do everything in our control to preserve these freedoms, and make for a better society for everyone, not just the privileged few.” These courses aren’t just about good policy – They’re about preserving our dignity in the workplace.

By Alexis Martin (she/her)

If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, make sure to order a copy of Elmer Dixon’s powerful memoir DIE STANDING: From Black Panther Revolutionary to Global Diversity Consultant and check out what others have been saying about Elmer and his story.

Check out these other opportunities to see what folks are saying about Elmer and his continued work.

• See Elmer speak at Stories from the Revolutions’ Front Lines at his keynote at TEDxUTulsa
• Listen to Elmer talk on NPR’s The Jefferson Exchange
• Read about Elmer’s story in a piece featured in The Seattle Times
• Listen to Elmer on The Medium