Sometimes good terms get hijacked. Equity is a case in point.

Who is not for fairness, impartiality and even-handed dealing? OK, OK, I get it – you have already made a long list, including several previous bosses and organisations even. Or that bloke on the bus who deliberately takes up both seats to prevent other commuters sitting down. Or. Or.

Setting sail on the good ship equity we leave behind those petty sorts who cheat the system. But if we are not careful, we might run onto the rocks of accountability. The siren call of the bean-counting mermaids at a distance seem alluring. Frequently only when it is too late do we realise these mermaids are distinctly fishy.

The argument in workplaces goes something like this. We, of course, aspire to treating others equitably. This begs the question of how do we measure our aspirations? What measures can we put in place to ensure equity? Notice, here, the move from aspiration to accountancy. This is a mistake.

It is a mistake because the logic from this point on is inexorably perfused with measurement. For instance, having decided we wish to champion equity, we decide we must define what we mean by equity. Because we want to initiate “measures”, it follows that our definition must permit us to be able to measure whether or not we are achieving our goal of equity.

Fairness seems a promising place to start. From there it is but a short step to declaring that everyone must be treated the same. But that does not seem very equitable given people differ in many (most?) things including their needs, their level of effort, their investment, their performance, their results, and a whole range of other factors.

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Should all clients and customers be treated the same? What about accommodations for those who have particular needs? Does equity mean that everyone gets exactly the same experience? This is the McDonald’s versus the local restaurant debate. I could walk into any gin joint or Scottish burger bar in the world and my Gordon’s will taste the same, as will my Big Mac. This is what commoditisation aims to achieve. Consistency of experience, product, and service.

This consistency comes with some costs. Churning out the same old, same old is hardly a receipt for innovation or creativity. It robs consumers of the chance to experience the brilliance of a local chef or an artisanal distillery. It is conformity to the mean average in the name of equity. Too frequently this is a receipt for mediocrity.