RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Jan. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JAGGAER has announced an initiative to make its workplace and external relations more inclusive and respectful by removing all language that is, or may be, viewed as insensitive to some or all employees and stakeholders. As part of this ongoing commitment, the company has already started removing words and terms that refer to historical racial injustices and prejudices.
“We are doing this first and foremost because it is the right thing to do. We want to create an environment that is comfortable for everyone,” said Jim Bureau, CEO of JAGGAER. “The words we use matter. Whether or not we notice it, language shapes the way we view the world. Adapting our language can be a catalyst for positive change. And let’s face it, some of the terms used in procurement and tech have their origins in systematic oppression and servitude. That is wrong and needs to change.”
Within the context of a broader Human Equity Project, JAGGAER’s leadership has mandated its development, marketing, communications and support teams to go through all of its code, documentation and collateral to identify and eliminate offensive terms, replacing them with neutral and objective alternatives. For example, the terms “blacklist” and “whitelist” have been replaced with “blocked list” and “safe list.” The term “master-slave system” has been replaced with alternatives such as “controller-agent” system. JAGGAER is also addressing language that is insensitive based on gender, sexual orientation, and other prejudices.
“We don’t claim to be perfect in this respect and recognize that we’re embarking on a journey,” Bureau emphasized. “We challenge our peers around the world, especially those in the procurement tech space, to join us and apply the same thinking. This is a movement that is gaining momentum. We hope that others in our sector will follow our lead, and we are happy to share our process and learnings with anyone that wants to join the journey.”
“We all stand to benefit from inclusivity. By providing a more welcoming environment for people of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds, we expand the talent pool and benefit from a wider range of experiences and social networks,” added Bureau.
For more information or to join us in this pledge, please email: takepart@jaggaer.com.
About JAGGAER: Procurement Simplified
JAGGAER is the world’s largest independent spend management company, connecting customers to a network of 4 million suppliers in 70 countries, served by offices located in the Americas, APAC, Asia and EMEA. JAGGAER offers end-to-end SaaS-based procurement solutions, including advanced Spend Analytics, Category Management, Supplier Management, Sourcing, Contracts, eProcurement, Invoicing, Supply Chain Management and Inventory Management. These all reside on a single platform, JAGGAER ONE. JAGGAER has pioneered spend solutions for more than two decades and continues to lead the innovation curve by listening to customers and stakeholders in all industry sectors, public services and academia. JAGGAER holds 37 patents – more than any other spend management company.
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