Are Columbus companies and nonprofits offering paid time off for Juneteenth?
Less than a month after George Floyd was murdered in 2020, there was a renewed interest in Juneteenth, which falls on June 19 and commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S.  That momentum has continued into 2021, with President Joe Biden signing legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Going forward, government employees will be required to have paid time off. But some Columbus corporations and organizations were ahead of the curve. They already had planned to give employees Friday off in observance of the holiday on Saturday. More:Juneteenth celebrations provide chance for reflection, growth following difficult year  Known for its footwear and handbag brands, the Pickerington-based R.G. Barry company said the decision to give its 112 employees time off was a no-brainer. Juneteenth is a celebration of progress, but then also an independence day, said LaShae Boone-McCray, who is the head of R.G. Barrys diversity and inclusion advocacy council. So it was extremely important that we gave it the same magnitude as the Fourth of July. It's more than just Black history. It's American history.  R.G. Barry also is providing educational resources for its employees. Last year, Franklin County replaced Columbus Day with Juneteenth as a paid holiday, which employees will enjoy for the first time on Friday. The United Way of Central Ohio also made Juneteenth a paid holiday in 2020. Formal recognition of Juneteenth is one of many ways (were) taking steps to gain a deeper understanding of the work that still needs to be done to support the Black community, President and CEO Lisa Courtice said. As an organization, we made several changes to our funding application process, making it open to more grassroots organizations and requiring funded nonprofits to have diverse boards. We hope central Ohioans will join us by supporting local Juneteenth celebrations, volunteering in our community and learning more about the significance of the holiday.  One of those local celebrations was hosted by the YMCA of Central Ohio, which is also giving its employees paid time off. The special gathering took place Thursday at the Reynoldsburg Community Center YMCA. Corporations like L Brands are offering a combination of paid holiday time and educational programming. The retailers inclusion resource groups are hosting a week of events celebrating intersectionality, including a virtual keynote and conversation with community leader and activist Julialynne Walker. The company also will provide volunteer opportunities and informational resources about Juneteenth for its employees. Abercrombie & Fitch is closing its U.S. global home office and distribution centers in New Albany on Friday and offering full-time U.S. store associates an additional paid day off. Additionally, the company is launching Juneteenth-focused videos and other content. Gannett, the owner of The Columbus Dispatch and USA Today, has made Juneteenth a paid holiday starting this year. Other businesses will focus solely on education. Nationwide Insurance has been celebrating Juneteenth for several years, but decided to lean in a little more this year, said Angela Bretz, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer. On Friday, Bretz and the Black associate resource groups will host a company-wide livestream in honor of the holiday. Juneteenth is not something that everyone has familiarity with, Bretz said. We thought we would start with the education, going back in history and talking about the significance of Juneteenth and how it came to be." Bretz added that the company has evaluated designating Juneteenth as a paid holiday. "With our industry being highly regulated in insurance and financial services, we tend to observe the federally designated holidays so that we're available to serve and meet the needs of our members and partners," she said. "But it is something that we continually have discussions about." Other companies, like AEP, offer a cultural holiday, which employees may use for Juneteenth if they choose. This year, Huntington Bancshares added its own Cultural Celebration Day, which some employees are using for Juneteenth. And for the second year, Huntington has offered educational programming for Juneteenth, said Donald Dennis, executive vice president, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer and learning and development director. This week, the company hosted a virtual experience led by a staff member at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. I think it's so important to really help people understand the significance of what Americans of African descent endured through slavery, and to use that as a way to really help us keep alive the hope of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that is promised to us all as Americans, Dennis said. More:Huntington Bancshares makes $40 billion commitment to underserved communities  Other companies like Grange Insurance will honor Juneteenth with social media promotion, but remain focused on broader diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Juneteenth is especially meaningful for Black-owned entities like Restoring Our Own Through Transformation (ROOTT), a reproductive justice organization that has recognized the day as a paid holiday since it was founded in 2017. And Crafted Culture Brewing, the first Black-owned brewery in central Ohio, is celebrating by hosting a daylong event on Saturday. Read on for a list of companies and organizations that are honoring Juneteenth. Heres whos providing paid time off for Juneteenth  Abercrombie & Fitch  Belle Communication  Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio  Childhood League Center  Columbus Foundation  Encova Insurance (closing early)  Franklin County  Gannett  L Brands  R.G. Barry  ROOTT  United Way of Central Ohio  YMCA of Central Ohio  Heres whos hosting special programming for Juneteenth  Abercrombie & Fitch  Crafted Culture Brewing  Donatos Pizza  Encova Insurance  Huntington Bancshares  JPMorgan Chase & Co.  L Brands  Lifeline of Ohio  Nationwide Insurance  R.G. Email me to be added to the list. ethompson@dispatch.com  @miss_ethompson