The Hidden Cost of Pausing Cultural Celebrations

The Defense Intelligence Agency just announced they will 'pause' celebrations of MLK Day, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Holocaust Remembrance, AAPI Heritage Month, Pride Month, Juneteenth, Women's Equality Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Native American Heritage Month.

There's something deeply telling about choosing to subtract celebrations rather than add them. When we feel disconnected from our shared cultural fabric, the instinct shouldn't be to unravel it further – it should be to weave in new threads that strengthen the whole.

Cultural celebrations create what researchers call 'psychological safety' – the shared belief that we can bring our whole selves to work without fear of negative consequences. It's the foundation that allows people to ask questions, share ideas, and take creative risks. Like a garden that thrives on diversity, our workplaces grow richer when we create space for more stories, more traditions, more understanding.

This isn't just about recognition – it's about results. Google's Project Aristotle found psychological safety to be the number one predictor of high-performing teams. Harvard Business School research shows that employees in psychologically safe workplaces are 76% more engaged, 74% less likely to experience stress, and 57% more likely to collaborate effectively.

Pausing these celebrations doesn't solve the challenge of representation – it creates a void where connection once lived. If any part of our community feels unseen, the answer lies in expanding our circle of recognition, not shrinking it. True inclusion isn't about rationing celebration – it's about creating room for everyone's story to be heard and honored.

Source: 

• DIA Memo dated Jan 28, 2025 - 'Pause on Special Emphasis Programs and Related Activities and Events' 
• Project Aristotle: https://rework.withgoogle.com/print/guides/5721312655835136/
• HBR: "The Leader's Guide to Corporate Culture"