Florida Hospitals Press Ahead With Controversial DEI Training in Spite of 'Stop WOKE' Act

The Floridian recently reported on DEI training being used at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, but that it is optional for employees. Now we have learned that Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Florida, which has an office dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is holding employee networking events that divide people based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

The brochure was sent to the Floridian from a concerned employee who said these are meant to "Divide, divide, divide". The brochure invites employees to join networks based on race, gender and sexual orientation. "You're invited to sit at a very important table. Join an employee network. In our employee networks, you and your co-workers can connect, learn more about your diverse experiences and viewpoints and work together to promote a positive, supportive and inclusive environment at Memorial."

The only network groups mentioned are "Black Employee Network, Women Employee Network, Latino Employee Network and LGBTQ+ Employee Network". There is no mention of an Asian Employee Network or Indigenous American Employee Network or any other groups. The brochure states the groups are "open to everyone - which means you don't have to be a member of a particular group to become a member of that network."

The Stop WOKE Act, which prevents corporations from requiring DEI training or mandating DEI events as a condition of employment, bans the practice of:

"Subjecting any individual, as a condition of employment, membership, certification, licensing, credentialing, or passing an examination, to training, instruction, or any other required activity that espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual to believe any of the following concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin" 

Read the full text of the STOP Woke Act here. Note: The sections that are underlined are added by the law, those crossed out are removed. The rest of the text is already part of the existing statute.

While the section of the Stop WOKE Act pertaining to corporations is currently on hold after a federal judge struck this section, this reveals a possible loophole in the new law in regard to corporations. While educational institutions are prohibited from using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training by the law, corporations can simply state that the training and programming are optional and will still legally be allowed to use it in their facilities.

The Governor's office has stated they are appealing the ruling against the Stop WOKE Act in court.

"We must protect Florida workers against the hostile work environment that is created when large corporations force their employees to endure CRT-inspired ‘training’ and indoctrination," said Governor Ron DeSantis when he signed the Stop WOKE Act. DeSantis has called Florida "Where WOKE Goes to Die" and frequently uses it as a campaign slogan.

The Floridian reached out to Memorial Hospital and received this statement:

"To clarify, Employee Networks are volunteer networking groups within Memorial that are being formed by employees for employees, based on a shared demographic, identity, affinity, life stage, or life/health experience. These groups are open to everyone who would like to join, learn from each other, share diverse experiences and viewpoints and work together to promote a positive, supportive and inclusive work environment. These groups, sometimes called affinity groups at large organizations and corporations are common across the nation, helping employees connect, grow their professional networks and leverage personal knowledge and experiences to enhance professional growth."