Employing people of different ages, genders, ethnicities, religions, and world views is not the full story when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Without a doubt, any company that has taken the step over the hurdle of discrimination and has created a diverse workforce should be applauded; however, this will be in vain if an inclusive environment is not created. Unfortunately, it has been reported that 61% of workers have witnessed or experienced workplace discrimination.
Look at Diversity and Inclusion as a motor car. Diversity is the body and Inclusion is the engine that keeps it running efficiently. In this article, we will discuss 3 practical things that you can do to create an inclusive environment where your diverse workforce can feel comfortable showing up for work and giving it their all every day.
Host Workshops to Educate Leadership on the Importance of Diversity and Inclusion
One of the best ways to change behavior is to educate. It is critical that this education begins with leaders who are directly engaging and working with employees. To achieve this, you could offer mandatory training for individuals at this level in your organization and above. The training sessions or content should begin with the basics such as explaining what diversity and inclusion looks like and their importance. Those being trained should also be given the opportunity to meet in small groups to discuss strategies that foster diversity and inclusion in the company.
There is an aspect of diversity and inclusion that many may overlook. This is unconscious bias. This occurs when employees make a judgment about others based on their background, worldview, gender, race, and other factors without being aware that they are doing it. Training can be designed to address this so that members of leadership and other staff can identify when they are doing this and embed within them the importance of modeling inclusive behavior.
Throughout the process, there must be feedback from the staff and management as to the inclusive temperature of the work environment. This feedback should then be used to improve future Diversity and Inclusion training.
Create Workplace Policies That Foster Diversity and Inclusion
Is it possible that your company’s existingpolicies are not conducive to diversity and inclusion? If you are truly interested in creating and nurturing both a diverse and inclusive workforce, you will need to take a critical look at your company’s policies. You might find it necessary to create new policies, amend current ones or get rid of some policies altogether to foster a diverse and inclusive work environment. Policies that may need a critical eye include recruitment, performance appraisal, and policies relating to promotions.
As it relates to being more diverse and inclusive when it comes to recruitment, you should look at the steps taken to find prospective employees. Ensure that your job descriptions are created to appeal to a wider audience. Consider promoting these job openings to a wider range of job fairs, hiring officers, and outreach programs.
Here are some policies to consider to foster greater inclusivity in your organization:
- Permitting employees to get access leave for religion-based holidays
- Making on-site daycare available to workers
- Allowing flexible work hours
- Reconsidering the set up of your workspace to ensure that disabled individuals can easily access areas of your establishment just as easily as others
Give Employees an Opportunity to Share Their Thoughts in A Safe Way
Training your leaders and creating policies are great ideas, but there must also be a strategy to check how effective these things are. There must be clear and safe communication with staff members to ascertain the effectiveness of that which was implemented. Quantum Workplace shared that around 60% of companies have metrics in place to evaluate the success of diversity and inclusion efforts.
It would be great if staff could feel comfortable approaching management about issues of ill-treatment due to their sexuality, gender, age, or other factors. Depending on where your company is in the process of increasing inclusivity, the process of voicing concerns and discomfort may also need to be anonymous. This will remove the fear that individuals may have in voicing their concerns.
Frequently ask your workforce to provide feedback on matters related to diversity and inclusion. When you communicate, ensure that inclusive language is used so that everyone feels comfortable. You can also develop employee-led task forces to communicate with other staff members and collect feedback.
Final Thoughts
In 2020, it is important that we grow past an environment that is hostile to people of varied backgrounds and lifestyles. A work environment should not be threatening to staff members. The same tolerance that is offered to customers of different backgrounds should be experienced by workers. By following the practical measures mentioned above, you can significantly increase the level of inclusivity in your organization.
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Sources:
5 Strategies for Creating an Inclusive Workplace
5 Ways to Promote Diversity in the Workplace Through Employee Engagement
6 Diversity and Inclusion Statistics You Need to Know [+ Takeaways]