Google Maps - is this going too far? So I logged on to edit a client's Google Business listing this week and was asked to complete some additional fields in the business listing. Is this business woman owned it asked first. Hmm, well, I answered NO, so suddenly our business is classified as "Doesn't identify as women-owned". Next it asked about amenities and asked if we offer gender neutral toilets. Lastly, it asks if our business is LFBTQ+ friendly and if we offer a Transgender safe space. I think this is appalling, what do you think?
Joe Oliphant
6mo
Sounds discriminatory on its own. Are they shutting down your access to ‘unapproved’ vendors and bids ?
Steven Nhan
4w
Informative Jeremy Carter
Manager of At The Corner Disability Management🔹Wicked Problem Solver 🔹Expert listener 🔹Focused on working with people 🔹Thinking beyond the BS
6moThis is perhaps an example of when the intent and execution diverge. While it may look like a criticism of that business to not have gender neutral toilets, or not necessarily identify as women owned, I'd consider them more as attributes. Then people who feel those attributes matter to them can search for businesses that meet their needs. I deal with many who face discrimination and anything that helps identify what is positively and action orientated towards addressing that discrimination would be welcome. In a sense, those attributes aren't necessarily meaningful to every business type, and I trust consumers would identify whether their presence or absence is contextually relevant for the type of business being sought. There's always room on the profile as well for a business to showcase how it may be addressing those attributes in other ways, which I am sure will also help consumers identify what they need.