​This is a petition of support and solidarity with workers at The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) standing against Outward Mindset and the Arbinger Institute. This has already started to be implemented​ at other state agencies and it is essential​ that we show solidarity with union members on this issue.

Since 2019, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has paid over $2.5 million in taxpayer dollars for services from the Arbinger Institute, an organization with roots in racist, homophobic, and religious ideology. Arbinger leaders publicly express extreme views on reproductive, civil, worker, and equal rights, while the organization has been affiliated with alarming programs diametrically opposed to the Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) values of Washington State and Governor Inslee’s Administration.

The Arbinger Institute was founded by a religious scholar named C. Terry Warner. Due to its foundation in religion, there is no clear delineation between church and state in public service.

DOH has contracted with the Arbinger Institute to implement what they label an “empathy training” called Outward Mindset, developed by C. Terry Warner, a vehement opponent to LGBTQ+ rights and scholar of the religiously rooted concept of “self-deception”. Outward Mindset is, simply put, not an empathy training but a tool to uphold white supremacy in the workplace. Employees who have experienced discrimination in the workplace have brought these issues to management and were met with disregard. Management told workers that they are creating conflict by bringing up their concerns regarding discrimination.

Also of concern to WFSE members is that this tool was adopted as DOH policy without an open bidding process to determine the most effective training tool and without any consideration for Washington-based, PEAR-oriented, BIPOC-owned (Black, Indigenous, People Of Color), less expensive, and non-religiously grounded alternatives. This is in violation of Executive Order 22-04 that requires all state agencies to educate employees about ways to create a PEAR culture. There are no mandatory DEI trainings at DOH.

In practice, the DOH has used Outward Mindset to discourage public employees from participating in protected activities such as union activity and freedom from discrimination. DOH has also used Outward Mindset as a form of retaliation, particularly against those who voice any dissent or concern about the negative effects of the program on their personal wellbeing. Outward Mindset doctrine denies the lived experiences of people of color, LGBTQ+ staff, disabled employees, neurodivergent individuals, survivors of domestic and workplace violence, people experiencing trauma, and people of different cultures as it does not take power dynamics into account.

Despite repeated concerns raised by staff and WFSE, DOH continues to use employee’s compliance with Outward Mindset in hiring decisions, disciplinary processes, employee evaluations, and mandatory HR investigations. We ask to put an end to the use of Outward Mindset in State Government and end all dealings with the Arbinger Institute. We believe that Washington State holds values that are antithetical to Outward Mindset and the Arbinger Institute.

Our demands are as follows:
• Make Outward Mindset voluntary and not a condition of employment.
• Stop sending millions of tax payer and fee based dollars to the Arbinger Institute. Tax dollars should not be wasted on mandating staff to abide by Outward Mindset.
• Perform evaluations in accordance with Article 5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington and Washington Federation of State Employees.