DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE: WHAT IT MEANS TODAY AND IT’S OBJECTIVES
oliviabaker November 4, 2020Anyone closely affiliated with the corporate world may be well aware of diversity and inclusion and its related issues. If you consider the benefits of the D&I concept, you know why business analysts insist that a D&I strategy is essential for a great organization.
Take time to compare some big companies around the world. You will find those standing at the top embrace diversity and inclusion in all spheres of their operations.
What exactly is diversity and inclusion in the workplace, though?
D&I is the acceptance and understanding of the differences between all the people of an organization. Managing diversity in the workplace means accepting, valuing, and celebrating people of:
- Different personalities, education, skill sets, knowledge bases, and experiences
- Different statuses, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds, sexual orientations, disabilities, ages, races, and genders
DIVERSITY
The corporate audience often perceives diversity in the workplace according to their generational cohort. The millennials consider workplace diversity as the combination of the different perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of the employees and utilizing all this to enhance the company’s innovative and productive power.
However, the older generation defines workplace diversity and inclusion as fair and equal representation. It does not let demographics dictate and does not relate diversity with business results.
INCLUSION
Inclusion means creating a working environment where all the employees get an equal chance to collaborate, participate, contribute, and support. A company that truly demonstrates the values of inclusion will always eradicate intolerance, discrimination, and barriers between all people in the workplace.
An organization where inclusion reigns is a place where everyone feels naturally included, welcome, and supported.
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF A DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING
A company’s mission, objectives, practices, and strategies make up its diversity and inclusion concept in a nutshell. The D&I strategy lends support to an organization for developing into a diverse workplace and gain a competitive business advantage.
You will note how companies, who function on diversity and inclusion principles, are a prime magnet for top talents. They have an inclusive and diverse environment that is creative and more adaptable. To achieve all of this and more, companies focus on continuous diversity and inclusion training- So that all of its desired effects are visible in every aspect of the business.
Diversity and inclusion training aims to:
- Establish fair treatment
- Devise resolutions for conflict processes that are also collaborative
- Create organizational agility, responsiveness, and flexibility
- Redirect focus on creativity and innovation
- Create awareness of collaboration and teamwork
- Emphasize the importance of equal availability of opportunities
- Continuous training also serves as concrete evidence of the commitment of leaders to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Create a strategy and focus at the CHRO/COO/CEO levels
- Train employees of all levels on the concept including unconscious bias
- Create standards of appropriate behaviours and hold leaders accountable for monitoring results.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Companies need to realize that diversity and inclusion in the workplace is not merely an HR program but a top-to-bottom strategy that helps companies outdo their peers in the industry. Besides, a workplace where diversity and inclusion reigns will always have more enthusiastic, productive, and devoted employees that drive business values and objectives.
