DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The pandemic has brought tremendous change in all our work lives. One of the significant changes has been the increasing push to prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. It is essentially about a shift in attitude and is the first step in building a people-forward future of work.
DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Diversity refers to the state of exhibiting a lot of range and variety in the workplace. Our world is shaped by countless different perspectives, ethnicities, and cultures. For organizations, diversity refers to a multicultural workforce and reflects other differences like race, gender, age, education, etc. Every factor of diversity has to be considered as these distinctive perspectives will determine the character of the business. Real diversity is recognizing that every voice is unique.
INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE
Inclusion in the workplace entails ensuring that every employee is given the room to thrive. While diversity is concerned with building a workforce with a wide-ranging selection of backgrounds and experience, inclusion ensures that they are all given a voice. Inclusion is when all employees feel like they belong. They have an opportunity to voice their opinions freely and do not feel excluded based on their identity. They see themselves reflected in the company’s values.
EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Equity refers to the policies that are instituted to support diversity and inclusion in an organization. Tangible real-world solutions are discovered by acknowledging structural imbalances. For equity-first businesses, a consistent process of redressing the balance of opportunity is essential. Equity-led companies consider individual needs and rebalance structures to account for disadvantages faced by minority groups.
FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION ON DEI
Divulge relevant opportunities
To create alignment and generate a commitment to DEI in the workplace, the first step that needs to be taken is to effectively communicate the organization’s perspectives, identity, culture, and values – This leads to identifying the most relevant opportunities for change.
Inclusive leadership
Promoting the full participation and sense of belonging of every employee, customer, and strategic partner requires active ongoing efforts. Along with policies and practices, the ability to envision and enact new ways of leading is essential.
Activate diversity
Recognizing and engaging differences within the employee and customer base are necessary for activating diversity. It also includes defining expectations and setting clear goals.
At Data Direct we help companies and communities to understand the dynamics of DEI in the workplace. Since each particular organization is unique, we identify specific actions that can be taken to drive business towards the desired goal.