Standing With the Asian Community

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been an alarming increase in attacks, harassment and racism targeting the Asian community. Most recently, the tragedies in Atlanta showed that this is a very real and ongoing crisis. This is a particularly disappointing trend given the recent progress toward greater social justice, and it is a reminder of how much work still remains.

iRobot stands with all members of the Asian community in the face of the ongoing racism and violence occurring in the U.S. and globally. It is absolutely critical that we show our support to our Asian colleagues, friends and family members during this difficult and frightening time. 

Beyond those efforts, I think it’s important that we also make the space to listen and learn about the discrimination and fear Asian communities continue to face. At iRobot, we’re going to be hosting a series of listening sessions to hear about this issue from all employees, but particularly those within our Asian community. These sessions will be hosted by leadership and members of our Diversity and Inclusion team, and they will allow us to hear directly from the Asian community at iRobot and understand their experiences.

A core principle of iRobot is to “Have Each Other’s Backs” at all times. For us, that means contributing to building an environment that is safe for everyone – grounded in respect, equality and compassion. We encourage all employees to speak up and speak out about discrimination of any kind, and we state unequivocally that iRobot does not tolerate any form of racism, discrimination, or harassment within our community.

Coming on the heels of the enlightening discussions we had during Black History Month, I hope our upcoming listening sessions will be another step toward our goal of maintaining a community of trust and acceptance at iRobot. As an organization, we are committed to equality, inclusiveness, respect, and kindness for all.