Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are crucial components in creating an inclusive workplace that supports employee wellbeing. DEI helps companies attract talent while meeting customer demands while driving innovation.
DEI encompasses all the ways that people differ, such as race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class and military/veteran status.
Definition
As the discussion around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) expands, there is an urgent need for common language to reduce miscommunication and foster open dialogue on DEI issues. Many terms used during DEI conversations can be unfamiliar or confusing for those newer to the discussion; but they all share one goal – creating more equitable and inclusive environments. This glossary can serve as a starting point for open and honest dialogue as well as building a shared language of understanding.
Diversity encompasses all the ways individuals vary from one another in terms of race and ethnic identity, gender, religion, nationality, community status socioeconomic status language disability sexual orientation etc. Diversity provides organizations with different perspectives which helps ensure success.
Inclusion refers to the active engagement of all individuals regardless of differences. It’s the practice of welcoming newcomers into groups or organizations and making them feel welcomed; inclusion is important because it reinforces the idea that all groups possess equal value and deserve fair treatment.
Companies that prioritize DEI can become more cost-efficient and productive. Studies show that employees are happier when workplaces prioritize equality. Furthermore, prioritizing DEI may lead to greater innovation as well as more accurate assessment of consumer demand.
Organizations looking to foster more diverse workforces should include multiple candidates from different backgrounds in their interviewing and hiring processes, provide increased training opportunities to all employees, address unconscious biases and limit microaggressions as part of creating an inclusive culture, as well as address unconscious biases and microaggressions.
Building a diverse and inclusive workplace environment may be challenging, but it’s worth every effort. Doing so can improve performance, attract talent, and boost customer loyalty. To begin this effort, identify key obstacles to diversity within your company and take steps to overcome them before incorporating diversity as part of your core business strategy and watch your bottom line soar!
Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion conversations can be difficult to navigate. With many terms used interchangeably across discussions of diversity, equity and inclusion – particularly when starting off – navigating can be confusing for newcomers to the discussion. To help foster progress it’s essential that we all share a common vocabulary which will reduce misinterpretations of conversations relating to these topics – to this end we have put together this glossary of key diversity and inclusion terms to assist.
Diversity refers to any difference within a specific environment, including but not limited to race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sex orientation and sexual orientation as well as socioeconomic status and physical ability. Inclusion refers to making individuals with differences feel welcome within a community as well as guaranteeing equal opportunities and access to resources for everyone involved.
Inclusivity in the workplace means creating an atmosphere in which employees of all backgrounds feel free to express themselves authentically in the workplace, such as providing safe spaces where sensitive topics can be discussed freely, encouraging open dialogue about discrimination and offering assistance with cultural obstacles.
Companies can foster an inclusive work culture through concrete actions such as including diversity and equity practices in hiring decisions, creating an employee resource group and offering ongoing training on unconscious bias. Companies that successfully cultivate an inclusive workplace have many advantages including increased employee satisfaction, productivity and engagement levels as well as better decision making processes, increased market reach, reduced employee turnover rates and lower staffing turnover costs.
Although the business case for diversity and inclusion is compelling, many organizations still struggle to make it a reality. A lack of leadership commitment often plays a part in this dilemma and changing an established company culture is difficult. Leaders that embrace and demonstrate commitment to diversity and inclusion are essential in driving its implementation successfully.
Diversity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) should not be seen as a one-size-fits-all approach; initiatives should be tailored specifically for departments, demographics and regions to ensure maximum effectiveness. Furthermore, it’s crucial that we address intersectionality of diversity; which involves considering how individual characteristics intersect and impact each other such as race, gender and social class.
Equity
Many workplaces promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as part of a commitment to creating a more diverse workforce. Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, each term has distinct definitions and goals; diversity refers to acknowledging differences while providing equal access, while equity targets inequalities in society. Lastly, inclusion entails creating an atmosphere in which employees feel valued and empowered at work.
All these elements are necessary to achieving DEI in the workplace. But it’s essential to remember that simply accepting diversity alone won’t do. In order for organizations to truly become inclusive, steps must also be taken to remove barriers preventing underrepresented groups from feeling valued and empowered at work – and to ensure all employees can thrive and reach their maximum productivity levels.
As an example, companies should ensure their physical workspace is accessible to people with disabilities and implement a meritocracy where all employees are treated fairly in performance evaluations and promotions. Furthermore, companies should foster an environment in which employees feel part of a team and their community.
Companies must prioritize hiring women and BIPOC candidates as it will allow the company to be represented by people who can relate to and understand the challenges other employees are experiencing.
At DEI, fostering an environment in which employees can express their unique perspectives and ideas is of utmost importance to creating an innovative workplace as well as increasing employee satisfaction and retention.
McKinsey reports that organizations which focus on DEI perform better financially. Furthermore, having an inclusive workforce helps companies better meet customer and partner demands.
Though diversity in the workplace is of great significance, many employees still do not feel at ease sharing personal and professional identities in the workplace. This could be for cultural or other personal reasons; therefore it is vital that businesses create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance in the workplace.
Benefits
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) may often be lumped together or used interchangeably; however, each term has its own specific definitions. Diversity refers to the presence of diverse demographic groups within an organization or community – such as ethnicity, religion, age gender identity sexual orientation socioeconomic class etc. Equity ensures equal access and benefits regardless of demographic status; Inclusion encourages people to be true to themselves in the workplace by creating an atmosphere of acceptance that allows for authentic identities to thrive; creating an atmosphere that fosters feelings of acceptance or belongingness between employees.
The DEI triad is key for businesses, as it encourages innovation and creativity by uniting diverse ideas, perspectives and values. Research also shows that organizations that prioritize DEI tend to be more successful than their counterparts who do not focus on DEI; companies that foster an inclusive workplace tend to experience increased employee satisfaction and productivity with reduced turnover rates; having an inclusive culture also makes recruiting and retaining talent easier – particularly among Millennials and Gen Zs.
Even with its numerous advantages, DEI strategies can be challenging to implement successfully. Chief among them are overcoming unconscious biases and microaggressions while creating an inclusive workplace culture for all employees. However, organizations can start their DEI journey using various tactics.
One way of accomplishing this goal is through new hiring practices that reflect the demographic composition of your workforce, or by prioritizing employee retention strategies which help to reduce turnover and save training costs. Deloitte’s 2022 Millennial and Gen Z Survey found that when it came to job satisfaction for both generations of workers surveyed – whether that be Millennials or Gen Zs – flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, or an inclusive culture were top factors that determined job satisfaction.
Companies can improve their diversity and inclusion efforts by raising employee awareness through educational resources, increasing access to leadership roles and decision-making processes for those from underrepresented groups, increasing access to leadership roles from these groups and providing increased leadership roles to employees from underrepresented groups. Finally, creating an equitable workplace means instituting policies which address discrimination and harassment in the workplace.