In 1865, June 19 marked the end of the Civil War and slavery
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is a celebration of the date that the Union Army’s Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared the end of both the Civil War and slavery — June 19, 1865. Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared the end of slavery on Jan. 1, 1863, it wasn’t until 2 1/2 years later that the war ended and all slaves were actually emancipated.
Juneteenth was first celebrated in 1866, with Texans memorializing the momentous occasion as a day of celebration and community. Since then, it’s come to be recognized as a holiday or official observance in 46 states and Washington, D.C., Forbes reported.
Although Juneteenth is not yet a federal holiday, these companies are taking it upon themselves to give their employees a paid day off on June 19 — and some also are donating to fight inequality.
Nike
Nike CEO John Donahoe announced the Juneteenth holiday in a letter to employees obtained by CNN.
“At Nike, Inc., we aspire to be a leader in building a diverse, inclusive team and culture. We want to be better than society as a whole,” Donahoe said in the letter. “As I have listened deeply during my first six months and over the past few weeks, what I have learned is that many have felt a disconnect between our external brand and your internal experience. You have told me that we have not consistently supported, recognized and celebrated our own Black teammates in a manner they deserve. This needs to change.”
Lyft
“Starting this year, we’re making Juneteenth an official holiday at Lyft,” the ride-share company announced on Twitter. “It’s one step in our ongoing journey toward racial equality at Lyft, and in this country.”
NFL
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to NFL teams explaining the significance of Juneteenth and why he has chosen to close all league offices in observance.
“The power of this historical feat in our country’s blemished history is felt each year, but there is no question that the magnitude of this event weighs even more heavily today in the current climate,” he said in the letter, obtained by ESPN reporter Adam Schefter. “It is a day to reflect on our past, but more importantly, consider how each one of us can continue to show up and band together to work toward a better future.”
Postmates
“Starting today @Postmates will observe Juneteenth as a permanent company holiday,” the delivery app’s CEO Bastian Lehmann announced on Twitter. “Not just in response to the moment — but to allow all of us time to reflect on the Black American experience (from 1619 to today) & the actions required to move forward together.”
Spotify
A Spotify spokeswoman told The Dallas Morning News that the company is recognizing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for all U.S. employees.
Square
Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter and Square, tweeted that both companies would be observing Juneteenth.
“Both Twitter and Square are making #Juneteenth (June 19th) a company holiday in the US, forevermore,” he said. “A day for celebration, education, and connection. Countries and regions around the world have their own days to celebrate emancipation, and we will do the work to make those dates company holidays everywhere we are present.”
Twitter
As with Square, Dorsey announced that Juneteenth will be a company holiday for Twitter.
J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney CEO Jill Soltau sent a memo to staffers obtained by Footwear News announcing that June 19 would be a paid day off for employees, with hourly workers to receive additional holiday pay for working on that day.
“I ask that you take the day to honor the historic pain caused by — and lives lost to — racial inequity and celebrate racial diversity,” Soltau said. “This is an opportunity to continue to learn, connect with each other and reflect on how we can move forward and achieve permanent and lasting change.”
Mastercard
In a letter from the Mastercard management committee shared with its employees, the company announced that June 19 would be designated Mastercard Day of Solidarity.
“This will be a Community Day and how you spend it is entirely up to you,” the letter stated. “We have a way to go to bring equality and justice to all – and it won’t be easy. As one step, we hope this Day of Solidarity allows you to reset, refresh and extend decency and compassion to yourself and to others.”
The New York Times
The New York Times management team announced Juneenth as a flex holiday.
“We have much more work to do on racial equity, but I appreciate the gesture from management,” tweeted John Eligon, who covers race for the paper. “Hopefully it’s a sign of more meaningful change to come.”
Vox
Vox Media’s chief executive Jim Bankoff announced in a company memo obtained by The Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Mullin that Juneteenth would be observed as a company holiday. Bankoff also announced that Vox would be launching a fellowship program focused on historically black colleges and universities and members of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Adobe
In a letter sent to all Adobe employees by the president and chief executive officer Shantanu Narayen and chief human resources officer Gloria Chen, the company announced that Juneteenth would be a 2020 holiday.
“This year, on June 19th, we are giving all Adobe employees the day off to focus on reflection and advocacy,” the letter stated.
Eventbrite
“Eventbrite is observing #Juneteenth as an official global company holiday — this year and always,” the company posted on LinkedIn. “We are committed to racial justice, supporting the global Black Lives Matter movement, and stand in solidarity with our Black Britelings and creators everywhere.”
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks have designated Juneteenth as a permanent paid company holiday for all of its employees, NBA.com reported.
“I am proud of the decision our organization has made to recognize Juneteenth as a company holiday this year and going forward,” Camye Mackey, chief people, diversity and inclusion officer for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena told the site. “This is one of many steps we’ll take to support the positive change we need to see in society.”
VSCO
“This year and beyond, VSCO will recognize #Juneteenth (June 19) as a company holiday,” the photo and video editing tools company announced on Twitter.
Quicken Loans
“#JuneteenthDay will be a paid holiday for team members who choose to commemorate this day,” Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farner announced on Twitter. “We are encouraging those team members to use it to have a voice, to contribute to the community, to celebrate their identity, or use it to learn more about addressing racial inequity.”
United Talent Agency
“UTA will annually recognize and observe #Juneteenth and shut down business throughout U.S. offices,” the talent agency shared on LinkedIn. “The intention behind participating in Juneteenth is rooted in wanting to give UTA employees the opportunity, if they choose, to continue to celebrate, focus on additional conversations and education, or use the day to honor this moment in a way that feels best for them.”
Endeavor
Entertainment company Endeavor announced that Juneteenth would be an official company holiday for all U.S. employees, Deadline reported.
Live365
Internet radio company Live365 announced in a blog post that it had made Juneteenth an official company holiday in the U.S.
“Observing Juneteenth is a vital step in truly acknowledging the history of the United States,” Justin Ruoff, vice president of operations, said in the post. “At Live365, we will be using the day to learn more about Black American history and culture, and our hope is that more businesses will do the same.”
Premier Lacrosse League
“The PLL will be instituting a company holiday for June 19th in perpetuity, commemorating the day that marked the end of slavery in the United States,” the sports league announced on Twitter.
InfluxData
“This year, InfluxData will observe Juneteenth as a holiday for employees,” the company tweeted. “It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate progress, reflect, and educate ourselves on the history of inequality in America and the work ahead to create a more just society.”
19th News
Nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom 19th News made Juneteenth a staff holiday, the company’s editor at large Errin Haines shared on Twitter.
“I am proud to work with colleagues who are listening and *responding* — something I know goes beyond this moment, but also means a lot right now,” she tweeted. “I love this newsroom.”
Boschan Corp.
Culver City, California-based accounting firm Boschan Corp. announced on LinkedIn that the company would be closing its offices on June 19.
“Juneteenth is a holiday, a day for celebration, connection, and education,” the company wrote.
Citrine Informatics
Artificial intelligence platform Citrine Informatics announced in a company blog post that Juneteenth would be observed as a company holiday as part of its efforts to support the black community and Black Lives Matter.
“The work of being an ally falls to those who have benefitted from great privilege throughout our lives,” the blog post stated. “Therefore, we realize that our responsibility as an organization lies with each of us, as allies, not with those who have experienced a lifetime of discrimination.”
Harper + Scott
Design and manufacturing studio Harper + Scott announced on LinkedIn that the company will be observing Juneteenth as a corporate holiday.
“While it is obvious that systemic racism has prevented Black communities from experiencing true freedom in the US, by observing Juneteenth we stand in solidarity and acknowledge the amount of work that has yet to be done,” the post stated. “As we follow the example of companies who have done this before us, we hope that it becomes obligatory for every company after us.”
Flatiron Family Medical
“Flatiron Family Medical will be closed on this and all June 19ths moving forward to commemorate Juneteenth,” the New York-based medical group shared on Facebook.
HireClub
“Going forward Juneteenth will be a paid company holiday for HireClub,” the company’s CEO Ketan Anjaria shared on LinkedIn. “A day where our team can remember and celebrate this important day in American history.”
PagerDuty
Jennifer Tejada, CEO of the operations platform PagerDuty, announced on the company blog that Juneteenth would be observed as a “Day for Change.”
“During this time, Dutonians (PagerDuty employees) will be asked to use their voices to advocate for equity and critical reform for the Black community,” she wrote. “From education to volunteerism, we’re offering opportunities for all of our employees to contribute and incite change. Specifically, we invite them to:
- Volunteer with causes that advocate for the rights of the Black community and other marginalized groups
- Participate in peaceful activism close to their home
- Educate themselves on the key issues at hand and how to create positive, long-term change
- Financially contribute to organizations aimed at the sustainable development and advancement of Black communities, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Black Lives Matter.”
Pulumi
“We’re making #Juneteenth a company holiday, have launched a donation-matching program for staff and will be reading @IjeomaOluo’s ‘So You Want To Talk About Race’ as a team to deepen the conversation,” Seattle-based tech company Pulumi announced on Twitter.
Social Driver
“Social Driver is making Juneteenth a company holiday,” the digital agency announced on Twitter. “We encourage you to consider the promises of freedom not yet realized and we invite other employers to join us.”
Universe
“We are celebrating Juneteenth, aka FREEDOM DAY, next Friday,” website design platform Universe shared on Twitter. “We’ll be off from our normal work, but we’ll spend the day protesting, building, and speaking out to push forward the march of freedom for all.”
Praytell
“We’re taking Juneteenth off from work,” the Brooklyn, New York-based agency tweeted. “You should too.”
Spark Capital
Spark Capital announced on Twitter that June 19 would be a company holiday, “a day we’ll spend reflecting, volunteering, and further educating ourselves.”
Wondersauce
“Beginning Friday, June 19th, 2020, we will be closing our offices in observance of Juneteenth as a day to honor, learn, and reflect,” Wondersauce, a digital agency, shared on its website. “We’ve added this date to our handbook and will be observed company-wide moving forward.”
Emtrain
Emtrain, a company that provides online HR, compliance and harassment training, stated in a company blog post that it “celebrates Juneteenth in solidarity with and support for Black Lives Matter,” and recommended that other companies observe the day as a holiday as well.
“Not only does it signal to black employees that you stand with them through this tumultuous and emotional civil rights movement, but you are acknowledging to your entire community that the black experience and the struggles that they have had to endure is one worth acknowledging,” the blog post stated.
Civic
Digital wallet company Civic shared on Facebook that Juneteenth would be an official paid holiday for its employees.
Bottle Rocket
Dallas-based digital experience consultancy Bottle Rocket designated June 19 “as a company-wide day of reflection, learning and action for its 250 employees and invites other organizations to do the same,” the company stated in a press release.
“The company has created a starter pack of ideas and resources for reflection, learning and action that can help any company or organization quickly organize and join the movement,” the release continued.
One Planet
Investment firm One Planet shared on Facebook that Juneteenth would be observed as a company holiday to be used as a day of service.
“It is about time we give Juneteenth the rightful reverence it deserves — this is the true independence date in American history on which ALL people were granted freedom,” the post stated. “On this day, One Planet employees have a paid day off. We must challenge ourselves to engage in service, no matter how small, so that we will eventually be able to heal the racial wounds in this country. Serving humanity is the only way to bring people together.”
FinancialForce
“As we continue our commitment to reinforce a culture of equality, we are closing our doors on Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day) to give employees a day to stop, reflect, and learn about diversity, inclusion, and bias,” computer software company FinancialForce shared on LinkedIn. “Recognizing that meaningful change does not happen in a single moment in time, but requires deep and ongoing commitment, our employees are engaging in open forums and planning ways to use company-granted volunteer days to take action in their own communities and through their own networks. We look forward to sharing our individual and shared voices through this journey.”
Optimizely
“Optimizely has declared #Juneteenth (June 19th) a company holiday in the U.S to enable our employees to self-educate and take actions regarding issues of race and social justice,” the experience optimization platform shared in a company blog post.
Accordion Partners
Financial services company Accordion Partners shared on LinkedIn that as part of its commitment to making “long-term, meaningful improvements across our organization, our industry, and the communities where we live and work,” it would be making Juneteenth a company holiday.
“We’ll be closed for business to stand in solidarity – because #BlackLivesMatter.”
Mad Fish Digital
“Mad Fish Digital will be closed Friday, June 19th to observe Juneteenth, a day celebrating the end of slavery in America,” the digital marketing agency stated on its website. “We hope our partners and friends take the day to honor and learn about the culture, experience and achievements of Black people, and take actionable steps to dismantle white supremacy.”
Sequoia Capital
“We @sequoia will mark #Juneteenth as a company holiday this year and every year,” Roelof Botha, a partner at Sequoia tweeted. “We will honor this day to learn and reflect on how we can be a part of the solution to racial injustice, and take personal actions to support civil rights organizations and Black-owned businesses.”
JUV Consulting
Marketing agency JUV Consulting shared in a LinkedIn post that it would be observing Juneteenth as a company holiday.
“We have asked our team not to answer emails, schedule meetings, or conduct business operations on Juneteenth,” the post said. “June 19th is a moment in our country’s history that we do not remember or celebrate enough. This historic day is a time to celebrate the culture, progress, & achievements of African Americans. At this time especially, we must recognize the harsh realities Black communities have faced since the foundation of the US, along with the contributions they continue to make to build & create this state.”
Remine
Remine, a real estate platform, announced on Facebook that the company would be observing Juneteenth as a holiday.
Neuroleadership Institute
David Rock, founder and director of the NeuroLeadership Institute, tweeted that the company was giving its employees June 19 off as a paid holiday to celebrate Juneteenth and for “regeneration time.”
Zenefits
Software company Zenefits announced on Twitter that Juneteenth would be a “permanent company holiday to give our employees the space to celebrate —and help advance— freedom for all.”
Qatalyst Partners
“Qatalyst Partners has established #Juneteenth as a company holiday in recognition that, despite slavery’s demise on June 19, 1865, the deep pain of racial injustice continues to persist, and we’d like to be part of the solution to achieve equal justice and opportunity for all,” the investment bank tweeted.
