Diversity and Inclusion: 5 Best Practices for the Workplace
By Stephen Pedder When diversity and inclusion are practiced, everybody wins. The world may have a long way to go before every individual is valued and respected regardless of their race, age, gender identity, religion, and education — but as an employer, you hold the ability to speed up that process by practicing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Without a doubt, these principles play a major part in propelling any business towards success. Having a diverse team makes way for unique and innovative ideas and perspectives that put you ahead of the rest. But how do you make it happen in 5 steps? AdCulture has got the answers.
Read on to find out!
How Diversity and Inclusion Can Improve Your Business and Employee Mindset
- When considering companies and employment offers, 67% of job seekers think of diversity as an important factor. Being able to attract a larger group of potential employees increases any company’s chances of finding the most competent people for the job.
- Research shows that employees are 5 times more likely to feel empowered to do their best when they feel like their voice is heard at work. If your team is inspired to do well, this ultimately helps your business succeed.
- Studies conducted by McKinsey & Company also revealed that companies who uplift gender, culture, and ethnic diversity actually outperform businesses that don’t support these values.
5 Best Practices to Promote Diversity and Inclusion
1. Recruit People Based on Skills Above All Else
What are the first few elements you look at when recruiting? Unfortunately, unconscious bias during the hiring process is still very much alive – race, gender, and age continue to be among the top factors that are always initially considered.
However, recognizing this fact can help reduce these biases. Understanding that the colour of someone’s skin, how they identify themselves, and how long they’ve been traversing the Earth does not dictate how skilled they are. These practices will help your company embrace diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, educational background and previous work experience can so easily be overvalued that they end up being blinding factors.
Yes, education is important — but ultimately there are countless elements in the world that school simply can’t teach. Sometimes, potential recruits are just born with unparalleled skills or have honed them in diverse ways that can outshine a top university degree any time. An impressive resume isn’t what will help propel your company forward — it’s employee intelligence and capability.
Also, letting talented applicants slip away simply because of their lack of work experience is another practice that, unfortunately, stomps all over the idea of diversity and inclusion. If you sense extraordinary talent, consider giving it a chance. After all, how can a skilled employee gain the experience to include on their resume in the first place if no company gives them a shot to prove their worth?
2. Don’t Play Favourites
No one should feel like they don’t belong. Providing equal opportunities for everyone in the workplace is a vital component of diversity and inclusion. It’s as simple as not playing favourites and giving everyone a chance to grow.
Are there any pay gaps between employees who have similar responsibilities yet different ethnicities, gender identities, or ages?
Is everyone being paid fairly for their hard work and being given their deserved benefits and recognition?
Are you giving equal importance to the views and opinions of each member of the team regardless of their position in the company?
These are just a few of the questions to ask yourself as an employer to make sure that diversity and inclusion are practiced. No one should feel left out.
3. Create Opportunities for Employee Engagement
If you have a ton of employees who just pass each other by in the halls without even acknowledging one another’s existence, then this is a huge sign that you need to create opportunities for employee engagement.
Every employee is unique, and promoting friendly interactions between every member of the team makes way for the embracement of diversity and inclusion. Realistically speaking, you can’t expect everyone to get along, of course — but you won’t know unless you create the opportunity for them to delight in each other’s similarities and differences.
Schedule short meetings or send out employee newsletters discussing important values that should be upheld in the workplace, plan team building events, or organize employee research groups. The possibilities for creating harmony at work are endless!
4. Acknowledge the Holidays of Different Cultures
From Black Business Month to Asian Heritage Month, there’s always a reason to celebrate in the world of diversity.
Mark days like Lunar New Year, Native American Heritage Day, Hanukkah, Ramadan and LGBTQ+ Pride Month on your calendar and make sure to shine the spotlight on these events at work. It’s bound to start a conversation and raise awareness on just how interesting every culture is.
5. Implement Sanctions for Any Acts of Discrimination
For some people, embracing diversity and inclusion comes naturally; while for others, it takes discipline. Throughout time, discrimination has always been one of the most serious forms of oppression that doesn’t even entail strict disciplinary measures for those at fault.
But, it doesn’t have to be like this on your watch if you genuinely seek to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Figure out how acts of discrimination should be sanctioned and include this in your company’s policies. By showing how seriously you take these matters, you might be able to avoid unpleasant incidents in the workplace.
Embrace Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
No one should feel left out. Inclusion and diversity practices will turn the workplace into a positive space for all the members of your company. By placing importance on these values, you’ll be able to push your business, and the world, closer to success and unity. Diversity makes you unique— and being unique is what makes you succeed.
Let AdCulture help with hiring your next rock star. With decades of experience hiring marketers, advertising professionals, and specialists, we take the time to understand your business’ unique requirements and find only the best candidates to seamlessly fit into its culture. Contact us today for more information!
