Workforce

Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck gets spotlight at HR conference

Working Lunch: This week's political podcast discusses the appearance of a conservative influencer at the Society of Human Resource Management conference. Some attendees are boycotting the event, but is this an opportunity to hash it out??

In this week’s Working Lunch, Joe Kefauver and Franklin Coley of Align Public Strategies discuss the scheduled appearance of Robby Starbuck at the annual Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) in Louisville, Kentucky, this week. A conservative influencer, Starbuck has been a vocal critic of diversity, equity and inclusion programs across all industries, including restaurant companies. Starbuck has focused his “anti-woke” attacks on brands like McDonald’s and Cracker Barrel.

Some HR executives, however, are boycotting the SHRM meeting altogether. Kefauver and Coley question whether Starbuck’s attendance at the conference is an acquiescing to the MAGA universe or an opportunity for the HR community to get it all out in the open?

Also this week, the podcast takes a look at free universal child care in New Mexico and how that might impact the ability of new parents to stay or re-enter the workforce.

 

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Food

Butter innovation spreads across menus

Behind the Menu: Restaurants are elevating butter with creative flavors, formats and service, proving that a simple ingredient can set a menu apart and add value.

Financing

Fat Brands has a debt problem

The Bottom Line: The owner of Fatburger went on a buying binge in 2020 and 2021. Five years later it is working furiously to generate cash and pay off debt. But the government shutdown is creating headaches.

Financing

McDonald's is making a big bet on its Extra Value Meals

The Bottom Line: The fast-food giant argues that its lower-priced combo meals will generate more customers and more sales over time, and profitability will follow. But costs aren’t exactly decreasing.

Trending

More from our partners