National Hispanic Heritage Month (NHHM) is celebrated in the United States from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 to honor the contributions Hispanic and Latinx Americans have made to U.S. art, history, culture and society. Recognizing Americans whose ancestors come from Spain, Portugal, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, NHHM also encompasses the anniversaries of independence days for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18, and Día de la Raza on Oct. 12.

Global talent solutions firm Robert Half engages Hispanic and Latinx colleagues, allies, our Employee Network Groups (ENGs) and support from our enterprise in celebration of NHHM. Our ENGs provide communities of connection and integrate into our talent attraction and development efforts. We asked two Robert Half employees to share what celebrating NHHM means to them:

  • “Celebrating NHHM at Robert Half gives me an opportunity to honor the sacrifices and achievements my parents made toward creating a greater future of success for me and my siblings,” said Crystal Rodriguez, vice president, Strategic Accounts, and Somos Familia Co- President. “To also celebrate alongside my work-family at the organization where I’ve built my career over the past 13 years deepens the ability for me to bring my authentic self to work each and every day.”
  • Tina Gomez, lead talent acquisition partner, commented on her family and community heritage and how growing up Latina “instilled the importance of hard work, perseverance, and love.” She continued that recognition of this month encourages the “celebration and recognition of a diverse community with strong values stemming from a rich culture and rooted family traditions.”

A central focus to this year’s celebration is on mental health and well-being. Recognizing the importance of mental health in the lives of our employees, Robert Half and Somos Familia are inviting employees to engage in a mindfulness journey throughout the month. By participating in the “Estamos Unidos Wellness Fiesta,” employees will dedicate time toward activities such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, gardening, to name a few. As hours are logged in a donation and volunteer platform, Robert Half will match and contribute funds to a nonprofit as selected by, and on behalf of, Somos Familia.

In addition, Robert Half will hold internal conversations on “The Importance of Finding a Safe Cultural Community” and “Celebrating Nuestras Voces” and is partnering with Protiviti, a division of Robert Half, for an internal keynote speaker event on career, culture and community.

Beyond programs specific to NHHM, Robert Half’s DEI initiatives provide career growth opportunities year-round. Employee-driven, our ENGs lead learning opportunities related to stewarding equitable systems, creating inclusive environments, and helping people become effective peers and leaders for employees at all levels, inherently upskilling our workforce.

“My leadership role within Somos Familia provides a platform to achieve my professional goals, including career pathing, upskilling, and success planning at Robert Half,” said Crystal. “I’ve developed my executive presence and listening skills through listening sessions, discussions, and collaboration with our C-suite, executive sponsors, DEI, and other ENG leaders.” 

Upskilling employees through DEI programs can take shape numerous ways, including on-the-job training, skills-based volunteering, employee development planning and mentoring.

“The Somos Familia Mentorship Program has matched more than 30 individuals within our organization with mentors who provide intentional support, encouragement and opportunities for achieving personal and professional development goals,” said Tina. “By providing an opportunity for members to develop leadership skills, we are also strengthening our inclusive corporate culture.”

If you’re interested in working for a company that values DEI, we’d love to have you join our team! Robert Half is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. You can view our current job openings here.