Someone Leaks ‘Leadership Training’ Material From A Seminar Held By Ernst & Young And It Just Reeks Of Sexism
Most people would expect large, well-known, and respected companies to be tactful, aware of its employees’ points of view, and not deliberately shoot themselves in the foot. However, that’s exactly what Ernst & Young did in 2018 June when it held its Power-Presence-Purpose leadership seminar which was marred by controversy due to some of its content.
Ernst & Young was blamed for the ‘sexist’ contents of its seminar during which it was suggested that women absorbed information worse than men, that females shouldn’t show too much skin, and that they should talk to men face-to-face as it may be perceived as acting aggressively. No surprise that the media and the online community were enraged and demanded justice when word got out about EY’s workshop.
Ernst & Young’s 2018 seminar enraged a lot of people when its contents were leaked
Image credits: Eden, Janine and Jim
These and other controversial pieces of ‘advice’ were shared with 30 female EY executives during a seminar last Summer at the company’s office in Hoboken, New Jersey. The 55-page-long presentation was leaked to HuffPost by one of the attendees.
During the seminar, women were told how they should talk and act in the workplace
Image credits: EmilyRPeck
During the Power-Presence-Purpose seminar, women’s brains were compared to ‘pancakes,’ while men’s brains were likened to ‘waffles’ (though we’re not quite sure what desserts have to do with anything, I wouldn’t mind it if my brain were compared to a delicious breakfast muffin). All jokes aside, the seminar was using desserts as metaphors to talk about the rate of syrup (i.e. information) absorption based on gender.
Image credits: EmilyRPeck
One of the seminar attendees said that they were told that women’s brains absorb information like pancakes soak up syrup, so it’s hard for them to focus, while men’s brains were more like waffles: they are supposedly better able to focus because the information collects in each little waffle square.
Image credits: Isabella Carapella / Huffpost
Image credits: Isabella Carapella / Huffpost
What’s more, during the 36.4-billion-dollar company’s seminar, female employees were told how to ‘improve’ themselves by referring to how men and women ‘should’ act based on their gender. Internet users were outraged that different qualities and character features were ascribed to men and women.
However, it seems that EY has learned from the experience: it no longer offers the course “in its current form.” EY also drew attention to the fact that the seminar was created by somebody outside the company, was offered both to men and women, and was launched because some women had requested it. The company said that, in its opinion, media criticism of the seminar was taken out of context, did not represent the full picture of what occurred, and didn’t give significant attention to the women who rated the program well.
During the seminar, women were said to ‘love kids,’ while men were said to have ‘leadership abilities’
Though EY later put out this statement: “There is no question that elements of the program included offensive content that is inconsistent with our core beliefs.”
Dear Pandas, what do you think about what happened? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. And let everyone know if you know any delicious pancake, waffle, or muffin recipes: these desserts are meant for eating, not metaphors.
Here is a leaked video of how one of EY’s employees reacted to the seminar
This is how outraged internet users were
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I worked there for a few years (2011-2014).my manager literally told me I should quit because I am a woman and should work on building a family and having children and a house. I was probably 24 at the time and of course unmarried. Total d**k. None of this surprises me. I look back on all the s**t they would say, passing around sexts, talking s**t about their wives and kids at home, etc. There were tons of nice men who I bonded with and remain friends. They never made it to the leader positions.
I don't agree with the vast majority of this E & Y stuff. But I am getting tired of the outrage machine lashing out when someone suggest wearing unsexy work clothes to work. And just like anything else businesses always have to address the people who don't have enough sense to dress appropriately.
Wow, this company apparently still doesn’t understand that women are actual people too. Our brains may be physically smaller but that has NOTHING to do with intelligence. People regardless of gender can absorb information more than others. And there are PLENTY of women in the world who are smarter than men.
"Our brains may be physically smaller ". Is there any proof here they equated it with intelligence? I didn't see it. This article only shows a fact which you agree with. Wait until seeing the evidence before bringing down the hammer.
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it appears I am entirely a male. I am in no way gentle or childlike.
Wow..... mind blown..... That is so unprofessional, sexist and factually incorrect, I'm actually blushing in shame for them. Smh....
I work at EY in another country and I can tell that this is not the only internal sh*t material. EY shows to the market an image that is very different when you're inside. Partners full of BS, income below average, among other sad things. They sell the dream of becoming a partner and that the many unpaid extra hours will be paid off in the long run... I still working over there because the bills keep coming... As soon as I find another job, I'll quit.
How are waffles/ pancakes sexist...women do absorb info quickly,are great at multitasking,can use both hemispheres of their brains at once. Men most likely act like waffles..we can only use one hemisphere of our brain at a time..so we probably do sort and lock down info into a certain category. Mens' brain are larger because men tend to be larger than women ( on average)
Your 'info' is very out-dated. Don't join in the stupidity.
Load More Replies...
I work at EY in another country and this is not the only internal problem. The image that the company shows to the market is a very different from. Rra
So women are easy to create, soak up knowledge quickly. Men are complicated and hardly worth the time, and stay crispy no matter how much you try to improve them. Got it.
If they REALLY want to improve employee thinking about gender, have them switch attributes! Can a man be affectionate and refrain from harsh language? They should!
E&Y made things much worse, in my opinion, by not taking responsibility. To wit, "EY also drew attention to the fact that the seminar was created by somebody outside the company, was offered both to men and women, and was launched because some women had requested it." First, how does the fact it was created by a non-employee make it excusable? The company PAID this person and should have vetted the content before presenting it. Second, the fact that it was offered to men and women isn't winning any points, the content was offensive and inexcusable. Finally, some women had requested it. So, is this the company's payback (revenge) on all its women employees since some women requested it? Ernst and Young keeps digging a bigger hole for itself. I wish this was unbelievable.
One more thing. "..The company said that, in its opinion, media criticism of the seminar was taken out of context, did not represent the full picture of what occurred, and didn’t give significant attention to the women who rated the program well." This content negates whatever good content there was. As far as "...the women who rated the program well" maybe they rated the OVERALL program well. AND, even if some women liked the offensive/sexist content, it just shows that there are unenlightened women as well as unenlightened men.
Load More Replies...
I remember that dress code.... from Catholic grade school in the 1970s. If men are professional, then their minds are on business. Ditto the women. So let's just all dress for and with respect on both sides. (BTW, yes, men, can dress unprofessionally. The skinny pants with man-buns and scruff-whiskers? No, doesn't look like FOrtune 500.)
This makes my head explode. Yes, our brains are slightly smaller, but it's been shown that the number of neural connections is larger, so we think in a more holistic, integrated way. Also, the thing of being "childlike"??? This is the very thinking that meant that women couldn't take out a bank loan without their husband's signature until DEEP into the 1970s here in the US.
EY also signed off on megabucks payment to Thomas Cook CEO (shortly before it went bankrupt in the UK, stranding tens of thousands of passengers, deleting the holidays of hundreds of thousands, as well as making thousands unemployed). So yes they are known for being very 'traditional'.
Imagine the vast number of workplaces who enforce this exact same mentality amongst it's employees who haven't been called out for it just because of this kind of advantageous blackmail. It's basically scaring them into shutting up about this medieval mindset in a 21rst century work environment...and that's a complete abuse of their power. It's actually appaling when all people wanna do is earn a living without any prejudice!
'Boys don't cry' was missed in the 'masculine' table. But I hope the lawsuits will prove it wrong
People keep referring to lawsuits. What is actionable here? Yes, I agree all of that stuff is gross and dumb, but not sure what anyone would sue over.
Discrimination. Per the EEOC you cannot make expectations of one gender unless you have the same expectations for the other. Both genders must have the same opportunities (whether the opportunity to speak or to advance in the company ).
Load More Replies... Don't flaunt your body. Seems like good advice. F**k the PC Brigade with a chainsaw!!
It's 2019 don't ya know, where we are not allowed to recognize differences between how men and women approach the world! Listen I had careers for 15 years with a Masters degree. Now I'm a married SAH mom. The fact is male and females do approach the world different. Sure there are a few who don't, but the vast majority do. To pretend otherwise is disingenuous and not helping women in the workplace. You know what? I would LOVE to be able to go to a workplace that recognizes I have children and accommodate for my needs surrounding it. But that's not what women are advocating for in the workplace. Instead misguided "feminist" are sayn I have to be more like a man! I remember a few years ago when FB was "praised" for rolling out a benefit that allowed their employees to freeze their eggs so they can focus on their careers now and still have children later. WAT!?! How about we create the environments NOW to embrace family and work life? I don't want to be treated like a man. I'm a woman.
Females and females approach the world differently, and it's disingenuous to suggest otherwise. Good for you and your choices, but I'm tired of being shamed for NOT wanting kids as a woman. I don't give two shits whether you act like a man. I care about living MY life the way I was meant to. But, according to that survey, I'm not a woman because I'm not ”childlike” and I'm ambitious. Are you really ok with these assumptions that they are making about you?
Load More Replies...
But... but the video has a woman with bottle-blond hair - how can we take her seriously???!!! Being serious myself now - how can she defend the rubbish that was in the seminar? Okay, they claim that good stuff has been removed in the feedback but the fact that the bits we do see contain such antiquated c**p is sufficient thanks.
Unpopular opinion time: I want to actually see the full contents of the seminar before passing judgment. I know around here wanting to gather all the evidence first will surely lead to downvotes without accompanying explanation.
And they're idiots. We just wanted you to know.
Load More Replies...
awwwwwww....if you use ad homs you;'re also part of the problem
Load More Replies...
I worked there for a few years (2011-2014).my manager literally told me I should quit because I am a woman and should work on building a family and having children and a house. I was probably 24 at the time and of course unmarried. Total d**k. None of this surprises me. I look back on all the s**t they would say, passing around sexts, talking s**t about their wives and kids at home, etc. There were tons of nice men who I bonded with and remain friends. They never made it to the leader positions.
I don't agree with the vast majority of this E & Y stuff. But I am getting tired of the outrage machine lashing out when someone suggest wearing unsexy work clothes to work. And just like anything else businesses always have to address the people who don't have enough sense to dress appropriately.
Wow, this company apparently still doesn’t understand that women are actual people too. Our brains may be physically smaller but that has NOTHING to do with intelligence. People regardless of gender can absorb information more than others. And there are PLENTY of women in the world who are smarter than men.
"Our brains may be physically smaller ". Is there any proof here they equated it with intelligence? I didn't see it. This article only shows a fact which you agree with. Wait until seeing the evidence before bringing down the hammer.
Load More Replies... it appears I am entirely a male. I am in no way gentle or childlike.
Wow..... mind blown..... That is so unprofessional, sexist and factually incorrect, I'm actually blushing in shame for them. Smh....
I work at EY in another country and I can tell that this is not the only internal sh*t material. EY shows to the market an image that is very different when you're inside. Partners full of BS, income below average, among other sad things. They sell the dream of becoming a partner and that the many unpaid extra hours will be paid off in the long run... I still working over there because the bills keep coming... As soon as I find another job, I'll quit.
How are waffles/ pancakes sexist...women do absorb info quickly,are great at multitasking,can use both hemispheres of their brains at once. Men most likely act like waffles..we can only use one hemisphere of our brain at a time..so we probably do sort and lock down info into a certain category. Mens' brain are larger because men tend to be larger than women ( on average)
Your 'info' is very out-dated. Don't join in the stupidity.
Load More Replies... I work at EY in another country and this is not the only internal problem. The image that the company shows to the market is a very different from. Rra
So women are easy to create, soak up knowledge quickly. Men are complicated and hardly worth the time, and stay crispy no matter how much you try to improve them. Got it.
If they REALLY want to improve employee thinking about gender, have them switch attributes! Can a man be affectionate and refrain from harsh language? They should!
E&Y made things much worse, in my opinion, by not taking responsibility. To wit, "EY also drew attention to the fact that the seminar was created by somebody outside the company, was offered both to men and women, and was launched because some women had requested it." First, how does the fact it was created by a non-employee make it excusable? The company PAID this person and should have vetted the content before presenting it. Second, the fact that it was offered to men and women isn't winning any points, the content was offensive and inexcusable. Finally, some women had requested it. So, is this the company's payback (revenge) on all its women employees since some women requested it? Ernst and Young keeps digging a bigger hole for itself. I wish this was unbelievable.
One more thing. "..The company said that, in its opinion, media criticism of the seminar was taken out of context, did not represent the full picture of what occurred, and didn’t give significant attention to the women who rated the program well." This content negates whatever good content there was. As far as "...the women who rated the program well" maybe they rated the OVERALL program well. AND, even if some women liked the offensive/sexist content, it just shows that there are unenlightened women as well as unenlightened men.
Load More Replies... I remember that dress code.... from Catholic grade school in the 1970s. If men are professional, then their minds are on business. Ditto the women. So let's just all dress for and with respect on both sides. (BTW, yes, men, can dress unprofessionally. The skinny pants with man-buns and scruff-whiskers? No, doesn't look like FOrtune 500.)
This makes my head explode. Yes, our brains are slightly smaller, but it's been shown that the number of neural connections is larger, so we think in a more holistic, integrated way. Also, the thing of being "childlike"??? This is the very thinking that meant that women couldn't take out a bank loan without their husband's signature until DEEP into the 1970s here in the US.
EY also signed off on megabucks payment to Thomas Cook CEO (shortly before it went bankrupt in the UK, stranding tens of thousands of passengers, deleting the holidays of hundreds of thousands, as well as making thousands unemployed). So yes they are known for being very 'traditional'.
Imagine the vast number of workplaces who enforce this exact same mentality amongst it's employees who haven't been called out for it just because of this kind of advantageous blackmail. It's basically scaring them into shutting up about this medieval mindset in a 21rst century work environment...and that's a complete abuse of their power. It's actually appaling when all people wanna do is earn a living without any prejudice!
'Boys don't cry' was missed in the 'masculine' table. But I hope the lawsuits will prove it wrong
People keep referring to lawsuits. What is actionable here? Yes, I agree all of that stuff is gross and dumb, but not sure what anyone would sue over.
Discrimination. Per the EEOC you cannot make expectations of one gender unless you have the same expectations for the other. Both genders must have the same opportunities (whether the opportunity to speak or to advance in the company ).
Load More Replies... Don't flaunt your body. Seems like good advice. F**k the PC Brigade with a chainsaw!!
It's 2019 don't ya know, where we are not allowed to recognize differences between how men and women approach the world! Listen I had careers for 15 years with a Masters degree. Now I'm a married SAH mom. The fact is male and females do approach the world different. Sure there are a few who don't, but the vast majority do. To pretend otherwise is disingenuous and not helping women in the workplace. You know what? I would LOVE to be able to go to a workplace that recognizes I have children and accommodate for my needs surrounding it. But that's not what women are advocating for in the workplace. Instead misguided "feminist" are sayn I have to be more like a man! I remember a few years ago when FB was "praised" for rolling out a benefit that allowed their employees to freeze their eggs so they can focus on their careers now and still have children later. WAT!?! How about we create the environments NOW to embrace family and work life? I don't want to be treated like a man. I'm a woman.
Females and females approach the world differently, and it's disingenuous to suggest otherwise. Good for you and your choices, but I'm tired of being shamed for NOT wanting kids as a woman. I don't give two shits whether you act like a man. I care about living MY life the way I was meant to. But, according to that survey, I'm not a woman because I'm not ”childlike” and I'm ambitious. Are you really ok with these assumptions that they are making about you?
Load More Replies... But... but the video has a woman with bottle-blond hair - how can we take her seriously???!!! Being serious myself now - how can she defend the rubbish that was in the seminar? Okay, they claim that good stuff has been removed in the feedback but the fact that the bits we do see contain such antiquated c**p is sufficient thanks.
Unpopular opinion time: I want to actually see the full contents of the seminar before passing judgment. I know around here wanting to gather all the evidence first will surely lead to downvotes without accompanying explanation.
And they're idiots. We just wanted you to know.
Load More Replies... awwwwwww....if you use ad homs you;'re also part of the problem
Load More Replies... 
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