This message was sent by Steve Hasker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomson Reuters, to all global employees on June 2, 2020.
Colleagues,
Like all of you, I am deeply unsettled by the recent examples of racial injustice in the United States. I’ve lived and worked in the U.S. for 25 years and the words to describe my reaction are disbelief and sadness. The underlying issues are so entrenched that far too little progress has been made.
That is why we are hearing from many of our people all over the country that they are experiencing intense feelings of anger, frustration and exhaustion, no matter their personal proximity to the events that tens of millions of people are watching unfold.
That the latest tragedy took place in Minneapolis — where so many of our colleagues live and work — brings the issue home. Colleagues and business leaders — regardless of their politics or background — have expressed their desire that we find a way to be a positive force.
We are an organization that understands the power of diversity and inclusion, and we must do more because if purpose-driven organizations like ours do not act in times like these, then we are part of the problem. I am resolved that our company will be part of the solution.
We should always have the courage to listen. We should always ask how we can be a force for change. And we will always leave party-politics at the door. This company has always, and will always, engage in difficult dialogue about how we can bring people together to address issues which affect our communities, including global efforts to drive peace, justice and strong institutions that get to the heart of the state of trust.
On Friday, I wrote to leaders of our Business Resource Groups and other leaders at our MSP campus. This week I will sit down with members of the Black Employee Network and the Diversity & Inclusion team. For me, it will be a chance to hear directly how these events are affecting people. It will also be an opportunity to chart a path forward together – to consider the role we can play.
To those already volunteering in Minneapolis and St. Paul, thank you for the overwhelming support you’ve shown your colleagues and neighbors over the last several days. And to our Reuters journalists who are also on the ground – with risks to their personal safety – thank you. Factual, unbiased reporting is keeping the world informed.
We will talk more in the weeks to come, but for now, please continue to look after yourselves and your loved ones. We will continue to work locally and nationally to strengthen the foundations of society, however we can.
