CCRcorp Sites  

The CCRcorp Network unlocks access to a world of insights, research, guides and information in a range of specialty areas.

Our Sites

TheCorporateCounsel

TheCorporateCounsel.net

A basis for research and practical guidance focusing on federal securities laws, compliance & corporate governance.

DealLawyers

DealLawyers.com

An educational service that provides practical guidance on legal issues involving public and private mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity – and much more.

CompensationStandards

CompensationStandards.com

The “one stop” resource for information about responsible executive compensation practices & disclosure.

Section16.net

Section16.net

Widely recognized as the premier online research platform providing practical guidance on issues involving Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all of its related rules.

PracticalESG

PracticalESG.com

Keeping you in-the-know on environmental, social and governance developments

Some commonly used words or phrases have racist, sexist or homophobic origins. Identifying and eliminating these terms from our vocabulary isn’t just an exercise in virtue-signaling “wokeness.” Rather, it’s a tangible action that makes our workplaces more comfortable for historically underrepresented groups who may be uncomfortable with these terms. For a variety of reasons, people may not want to voice that discomfort — or they aren’t accommodated when they do. One such word is “grandfathering.”

“Grandfathering” is a common business term that can be found everywhere. That includes HealthCare.gov, which refers to “grandfathered” health plans as those purchased outside of the Affordable Care Act before 2010. When people or companies are grandfathered, they are allowed to continue following an existing set of rules, even after new rules are put in place, or are granted an exempt status of some kind or are preapproved to participate in a program. While it seems harmless enough, the word’s darker origins ought to deter us from using this phrase.

Although the 15th Amendment gave Black American men the right to vote in 1870, many states instituted poll taxes and literacy tests to make voting difficult for Black people. Since banning Black people from voting had become illegal, some states worked around this by passing a “grandfather clause,” which made men eligible to vote only if they had been able to vote before Black Americans were legally able to vote — or if they were the descendants of a voter. In short, if you were white, you were “grandfathered” in and allowed to vote. With this dark origin, there’s no wonder there’s a quiet shift away from this term.

Companies prioritizing inclusiveness can encourage a shift away from problematic terms in materials and/or learning sessions — recognizing that calling out the need for change isn’t about shaming, but about removing barriers to productivity and success. Inclusive replacements companies may use instead of “grandfathered” include “exempted,” “excused,” “preapproved,” “preauthorized” or “legacy.”

Next: “White” and “Black” Or, return to all guidebooks