Workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) jobs help companies identify unconscious biases that prevent people from accessing opportunities they deserve. DEI specialists often focus on improving company culture from within by addressing hiring practices and power dynamics.
Young workers frequently cite DEI jobs as being important when selecting their employer. There are various kinds of DEI roles available such as:
Individual Contributor
Diversity, equity and inclusion jobs put an emphasis on making sure employees are treated fairly regardless of their social identities or other factors, providing all employees equal benefits, opportunities and rewards that others receive. Promoting an inclusive workplace requires this kind of work – but it’s no easy task; duties of an individual contributor in this area include reviewing policies to ensure they’re fair for all employees as well as identifying any structural inequalities within it.
Research demonstrates the value of having an effective DEI policy can aid companies with both growth and retention efforts, while decreasing turnover rates. Studies reveal that organizations who prioritize diversity tend to be more successful than their counterparts who don’t. Diversity benefits not only the company culture but also helps employees feel connected to each other – keeping employees in place longer while increasing overall productivity and employee retention.
Diversity, equity and inclusion personnel play an essential role in supporting employees through employee resource groups. These can range from groups that cater to specific interests (knitting or sports) or characteristics (LGBTQIQAAABB), to larger efforts like LGTBQA and Black Employee Organization organizations that may cause controversy within a company. In such an instance, it falls upon diversity equity and inclusion individuals to decide which groups are most suitable.
People learn about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from friends and families; some even begin practicing these principles in their personal lives before making a career out of DEI. Once someone decides to enter this field of work, however, it is crucial that their resume highlight this knowledge by either including it under its own heading or adding subheadings about DEI skills and experience.
Workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become a topic of great contention. A majority of employed workers say increasing diversity at work is beneficial; however, opinions differ depending on demographic and partisan lines; for instance Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to think focusing on DEI is bad idea in the workplace.
Manager
Most workers are familiar with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures at work; six out of ten say their workplace has policies in place to promote fairness in hiring, pay or promotion decisions and 52% have attended trainings or meetings about DEI at their place of employment. But more must be done to create an inclusive workplace culture.
An effective approach is to appoint a dedicated manager for Diversity & Inclusion efforts (DEI). This individual works closely with other managers and HR to set direction of diversity initiatives while also educating employees on how they can make their workplace more welcoming to all types of people, views, and perspectives.
Often held by mid-career professionals and reporting directly to either a senior diversity officer or the head of HR, this position focuses more on strategy and policy rather than preexisting roles that incorporate diversity and inclusion as part of their overall job description.
DEI managers also strive to promote internal groups based on shared identities. These may be affinity groups such as hobbies or sports clubs or employee resource groups that cater to supporting women, LGBT individuals or others within an organization. Sometimes these programs already exist within an organization’s existing programs but a director of diversity and inclusion must assess them, promote them more widely within it and provide leadership as well as funding support for them.
Managers need to be ready for difficult situations involving diversity, such as when one of their supervisors or co-workers makes negative comments or voiced biased views. Knowing how to navigate such instances and provide training for their teams on how to respond in an appropriate and professional manner are essential qualities in managers.
At WGU, our Enrollment Counselors can help you become a diversity and inclusion manager with a bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, social work or another relevant field – be it human resources, business or social work. Earning a graduate certificate in diversity and inclusion strategy will give your career the edge it needs in this competitive field. Interested students should talk with an Enrollment Counselor today about these certificates they can complete within one or more years!
Team Leader
As its name implies, team leader is an individual responsible for leading a group of employees on an assigned project. Your main responsibility as team leader should be motivating them and helping them deliver their best performance; but you should not assume inherent manager responsibilities such as employee discipline or annual performance reviews – rather you serve as communicator, resource manager and team leader within your group.
Your duties also include overseeing training programs for employees who may be new to diversity and inclusion initiatives, tailoring it specifically to each region or country where a company operates. A diversity and inclusion specialist may also play an integral role in creating employee groups based on interest or characteristics (i.e. Women in Business, LGBT or Black Employee Organization), though not all companies support this strategy; some prefer instead separating employees according to skills and goals rather than affinity and diversity groups.
Diversity Equity and Inclusion specialists play a vital role in reporting to management on progress and financial benefits of diversity initiatives and activities. It’s vitally important that this data demonstrate that investing money into diverse hiring and training actually pays off over time; government regulations as well as senior leadership often mandate this type of reporting.
Industry specific qualifications vary when applying to become a diversity and inclusion specialist; however, in general most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field such as BSBA HRM for entry-level positions or for further advancement to director or vice president levels of HR.
Are you ready to embark on your career path as a diversity and inclusion specialist? WGU Enrollment Counselors can assist in helping you start working toward earning a degree so you can begin making an impactful contribution to this important field sooner than ever before! Contact one today!
Executive
Companies often employ various roles that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). These positions could be found within either HR’s team or another department like marketing, IT or sales; some might address specific populations such as women or people of color while others address microaggressions and implicit bias – forms of workplace discrimination that exist today.
Companies are hiring more individuals to fill these positions, often requiring a bachelor’s degree in human resources or another related field, plus additional training and workshops. People in these roles must be comfortable tackling sensitive topics while being skilled communicators who understand the importance of creating an inclusive work environment.
Employees who enjoy their jobs are more likely to stay with a company, and diversity and inclusion specialists can ensure all feel welcome in the workplace. By identifying any cultural issues that need addressing and finding solutions for them – including training managers on identifying unconscious bias and other forms of resistance to diversity – diversity specialists ensure everyone feels welcome at work.
Diverse workforces can bring numerous advantages to a business, such as increased creativity and innovative thinking. That is why it is imperative that companies promote diversity and inclusion at all levels – including executive level positions.
There are various jobs within diversity and inclusion; one of the most prevalent being manager or director of diversity, equity and inclusion. These individuals will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of an organization’s diversity strategy and for recruiting employees as well as designing programs to encourage diversity within the workplace. They must also ensure the success of such policies by monitoring them over time as well as measuring outcomes against success criteria; additionally they should possess exceptional communication skills along with deep respect for global cultures and differences while being passionate about social justice issues.