Trusaic has always been deeply committed to celebrating cultural heritage and promoting inclusivity. It’s because of this commitment that we’re thrilled to be observing National Hispanic Heritage Month this year. It’s an observance that holds immense significance as it honors the rich and diverse contributions of Hispanic heritage to our global community. That’s a theme that really resonates with our product offerings and company values. Here we take a look at the origins of National Hispanic Heritage Month, how it’s celebrated, some background about Hispanics in the United States, and the connection this commemoration shares with our products.
Cultural diversity is valuable for any organization as we know diversity drives innovation. National Hispanic Heritage Month is a great way to emphasize the global community we operate in to drive collaboration and innovation among your employees.
Origins and Background
National Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week. It was initially introduced by President Lyndon Johnson and then later expanded by President Ronald Reagan to cover a 30-day period in 1988. That 30-day period starts on September 15 and extends to October 15.
The starting date of September 15 is significant for observers because it represents the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
This 30-day timeframe has become an opportunity for people in America to celebrate Hispanic history, culture, and the many contributions of US Hispanics who can trace their ancestry to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
How It’s Celebrated
Across the nation in communities and workplaces, September 15 to October 15 offers an opportunity for celebration through festivals, conferences, community gatherings, and more. At national parks around the country, the history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanics in America are shared.
On social media, several hashtags are used to call out and promote posts related to National Hispanic Heritage Month including #HispanicHeritageMonth. #HispanicHeritageMonth2023. #latinx, #latina, #latino.
In the workplace, National Hispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to support a culture of diversity and inclusion, and to provide employees from all backgrounds with information and education about their Hispanic colleagues.
There are a variety of things that companies can do to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month this year. SHRM shared several in a 2022 article, including:
- Develop a themed virtual trivia event.
- Host webinars on Latinx culture and history.
- Host a panel of Hispanic executives to share insights about their career journeys.
- Invite Hispanic employees to talk about their culture and heritage.
Many of these activities can readily be done in remote and hybrid environments. Enlist your employees in coming up with their own ideas about how to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Hispanics in the United States.
Some Interesting Facts About Hispanics in America
The United States Hispanic population has grown significantly over the past several years—reaching 62.5 million in 2021, compared to 50.5 million in 2010, according to Pew Research. In the past decade alone the Hispanic population has accounted for 52% of U.S. population growth.
The number of Latinos who identify as multiracial has also grown, according to Pew. This, they say, may be due to a number of factors including modifications to census forms which now make it easier to identify with multiple races.
Trusaic’s Culture and Hispanic Heritage
Trusaic is focused on achieving and prioritizing pay equity. Certain segments of the population have been historically more impacted than others by inequities. Hispanics are one of these segments. While gaps are narrowing, the Federal Reserve still indicates that the average Black and Hispanic or Latino households earn about half as much as do white households.
In addition to the opportunity to learn and build community that commemorative observances like the National Hispanic Heritage Month offer, they also represent an opportunity to refocus or reenergize efforts around pay parity. Trusaic’s PayParity represents a great potential starting point.
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