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Ikea Faces Criticism From Employees Over Juneteenth Menu

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  hal-a-lujah  •  3 years ago  •  36 comments

By:   Lauren Edmonds (Insider)

Ikea Faces Criticism From Employees Over Juneteenth Menu
Around 20 Ikea employees called out from work over its Juneteenth menu, which some employees found racially insensitive.

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



An Ikea in Atlanta sparked criticism among employees over its Juneteenth menu that some labeled racially insensitive.

The branch emailed staffers on Friday about a Juneteenth menu that would be served at an internal celebration to "honor and persevere Black Americans," CBS46 reported. The menu included fried chicken, watermelon, mac and cheese, collard greens, and other dishes, according to CBS46.

But some employees found the menu underscored by ignorance and said that management needed to do more to educate themselves on Black culture.

"You cannot say serving watermelon on Juneteenth is a soul food menu when you don't even know the history, they used to feed slaves watermelon during the slave time," an anonymous employee told CBS46.

"It caused a lot of people to be upset. People actually wanted to quit, people weren't coming back to work," the Ikea employee added.

An Ikea representative told Insider that around 20 employees called out from work over the menu, prompting an internal email response from the store manager on Juneteenth.

In a statement to Insider, Ikea apologized for the menu and said they "got it wrong."

"In addition to offering Juneteenth as one of our paid holidays nationally, our IKEA Atlanta store has recognized Juneteenth with our co-workers for the past four years. To honor the day, a lunch menu was created with the best of intentions, including recommendations from black co-workers," the statement read.

It continued: "We value our co-workers' voices and changed the menu after receiving feedback that the foods that were selected are not reflective of the deeply meaningful traditional foods historically served as part of Juneteenth celebrations. We got it wrong and we sincerely apologize. We are committed to educating ourselves and putting a process in place that will allow us to thoughtfully honor Juneteenth in the future."

Ikea also addressed accusations that no people of color or Black employees were involved in creating the menu.

"There were Black co-workers involved in the creation of the menu," the company told Insider. "Out of respect for their privacy, we cannot go into more detail, and we take this as an important learning and shared responsibility."

According to CBS46, the store manager told staffers that the revised menu included collard greens, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and meatloaf.


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Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
1  seeder  Hal A. Lujah    3 years ago

I thought for sure this was an article from the Onion.  I was wrong.  Man, I wish I could have been in the room to witness a bunch of white people coming up with menu suggestions for a Juneteenth celebration.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1  devangelical  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @1    3 years ago

the offending management is probably still confused.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
2  Trout Giggles    3 years ago

Just serve bar-b-q. That makes everybody happy

 
 
 
Hal A. Lujah
Professor Guide
2.1  seeder  Hal A. Lujah  replied to  Trout Giggles @2    3 years ago

I feel like it’s kind of a trap to make a special menu for an event to celebrate black heritage.  They should have just served what the always serve IMO.  You just can’t say some stuff out loud even if it’s true.  White people and black people both like fried chicken, but you can only talk about the white ones.  Adding watermelon is like tossing a grenade into the conversation.

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
2.1.2  zuksam  replied to  Hal A. Lujah @2.1    3 years ago

Watermelon was very popular among white and black southerners back before most of them had refrigerators or even electricity. It had nothing to do with slavery or oppression it was just the perfect snack food for the times, you grew it yourself so it was low cost, it didn't require refrigeration, it was sweet and tasted great, a large watermelon will feed even the largest family, and it contained lots of water so it was refreshing in the hot southern climate. If you lived in a rural southern area 90 or more years ago you probably didn't have electricity so ice cream wasn't an option. Besides who doesn't love watermelon on a hot day. 

 
 
 
Hallux
Professor Principal
3  Hallux    3 years ago

No meatballs nor smoked salmon? Sheesh!

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4  evilone    3 years ago

A case of trying and failing.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
5  Trout Giggles    3 years ago

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes? Sacrilege!

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.1  Ender  replied to  Trout Giggles @5    3 years ago

I could go for some greens with some hot sauce.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
5.1.1  Trout Giggles  replied to  Ender @5.1    3 years ago

Never had 'em but I would try 'em. I've eaten dandelion greens with a hot bacon sauce

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
7  Greg Jones    3 years ago

Iif they had served the regular menu, someone else would have bitched about it

 
 
 
Nerm_L
Professor Expert
8  Nerm_L    3 years ago

Can't go wrong with hot dish.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
8.1  Trout Giggles  replied to  Nerm_L @8    3 years ago

Yes, you can if you cook like my aunts

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
9  JohnRussell    3 years ago

No peach cobbler?  I know soul food restaurants usually feature peach cobbler.  And sweet potato pie. 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
9.1  Tacos!  replied to  JohnRussell @9    3 years ago

Now, yer talkin.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
9.2  Trout Giggles  replied to  JohnRussell @9    3 years ago

I had a neighbor in Texas who made the best peach cobbler and it's not exactly one of my favorites. But when Fran brought it out I was first in line

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
10  Ender    3 years ago

I wouldn't consider either menu 'soul food'.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
11  Ender    3 years ago

I have never been inside an Ikea. The closest one is in Houston.

I am guessing they have a cafeteria for employees? Or maybe just a restaurant for anyone.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
11.1  devangelical  replied to  Ender @11    3 years ago

I've never been in one either. according to my daughter, a professional shopper, there's 1 way in and one way out. they make you walk by everything they have to sell and you need a meal just to get all the way thru the place.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
11.1.1  Ender  replied to  devangelical @11.1    3 years ago

I actually have a wardrobe I bought from them online. The Pax closet system, or something like that. Pretty neat system with a bunch of different options. Expensive though when you ad it all up.

 
 
 
Hallux
Professor Principal
11.1.2  Hallux  replied to  devangelical @11.1    3 years ago

I always go in by the wayout door, saves a heap of time when all you want is napkins.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
11.1.3  Ender  replied to  Hallux @11.1.2    3 years ago

Is that like in through the out door. I always did that at concerts when I had to pee.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
12  Tacos!    3 years ago

It sounds like a tasty menu to me, but if someone wants to suggest different, more appropriate foods, I'd love to hear what they might be.

 
 
 
Thrawn 31
Professor Participates
13  Thrawn 31    3 years ago

Lol, I am sorry but that is just funny. Did they also offer up purple drank? 

 
 

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