Cigna employees subjected to toxic critical race theory training, dissuaded from hiring white men: report says

Employees at one of the country’s largest health insurers are being subjected to left-wing “critical race theory” instruction and are reportedly being dissuaded from hiring white males, even if they’re qualified.

According to documents and chat logs obtained by the Washington Examiner, as well as interviews with some Cigna whistleblowers, staffers are subjected to sensitivity training that is considered highly discriminatory and even racist.

Lesson plans include assessment of certain concepts like “white privilege,” “gender privilege,” and “religious privilege,” the latter described as “a set of advantages that benefits believers of a certain religion but not people who practice other religions or no religions at all.”

Workers told the outlet they are pressed to adhere to “inclusive language” outlines calling for the elimination of certain terms like “Brown Bag Lunch” and replacing them with phrases like “lunch-and-learn” or “grab n’ go.” The curriculum also suggests replacing the phrase “No can do” with “unavailable.” 

Staffers are instructed to avoid the use of gender descriptions of romantic partners and family members, as well as avoiding the phrase “Hip Hip Hooray” at celebrations like birthday parties to ensure everyone feels included.

The curriculum shared with the Washington Examiner also included a list of questions that ostensibly trigger microaggressions including “Do you even know what Facebook is?” and “Are you a nurse?” In addition, employees are instructed to review a “Societal Norms checklist” and mark boxes if they are “White,” “Christian,” or “Heterosexual.”

“Our inclusive culture at Cigna means that we’re working hard to ensure everyone feels respected, welcome, and like they belong,” Susan Stith, the Cigna Foundation’s vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion, and corporate responsibility, wrote in an internal memo. “This extends to the words we use, including understanding when certain terms might be perceived as negative or hurtful, and being intentional about choosing positive alternatives.”

The Washington Examiner noted that Cigna is the world’s 13th biggest corporation in terms of revenue, with 73,000 employees. The company is worth billions of dollars.

Photo Source Washington Examiner

The curriculum also recommends a number of books to read including “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo and “How To Be An Anti-Racist” by Ibram X. Kendi.

In addition, two books by noted leftist terrorist Angela Davis, who was arrested in the 1970s following a deadly attack on the Marin County Courthouse in California, are also on the list, “Policing The Black Man” and “Are Prisons Obsolete?” 

Some Cigna employees suggested to the Washington Examiner that lessons from the curriculum have seeped into the company’s hiring practices. And while many companies take diversity into consideration when it comes to hiring, one employee says that Cigna is going further.

Photo Source Washington Examiner

Chat logs between a staffer and a hiring manager provided to the outlet contain details of an incident involving a minority candidate with very strong credentials and who also did very well in an interview. The employee suggested that Cigna pass the candidate on to the next step, the hiring manager summarily “dismissed the candidate under the assumption is was white,” the Washington Examiner reported.

But after discovering that the candidate was actually a minority, the hiring manager said she was eager to make him an employee though she had not learned much of anything else about his work and educational history.

“Given the hiring practices they have in place where white, male candidates are blocked, regardless of qualifications, I have to say, ‘Yes, there’s obvious discrimination at this company,’” said the employee.

On another occasion, one employee suggested Cigna hire someone who had years of experience in the industry. But the hiring manager informed the employee that the candidate, a white male, would not be considered under the company’s diversity policies.

Other Cigna employees told the Washington Examiner the woke hiring policies are demoralizing, while others said jobs often go unfilled, sometimes for months, because minority candidates do not apply.

“I can’t fill these jobs,” one worker, who says he’s not happy in his position, told the outlet.

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Jon Dougherty

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