Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training is a top priority among employees, leadership teams, and HR professionals alike. Also known as sensitivity training or unconscious bias training programs; DEI courses often encompass inclusion training.
DEI goes far beyond just training; rather, it provides an integrative solution for workplace culture and change management.
It’s Good for Business
Diversity training can create an inclusive workplace that benefits all employees while helping you reach your business goals. Studies show that companies with more diversity tend to be more innovative, productive, and profitable than their less diverse counterparts. Offering diversity training is one way of creating this more equitable work environment that will benefit all your employees as well as help your company meet its targets more quickly.
Establishing an inclusive work environment will help your company attract and retain top talent. Employees appreciate working for businesses that value them as individuals while appreciating the contributions they bring to the table; diversity training is one way of creating such a culture within an organization.
Diversity training also can assist employees in becoming more self-aware about their own biases and how these may be impacting them and others in the workplace. By becoming aware of their own negative behaviors, employees can take steps to rectify and improve the workplace environment.
Embracing Equity’s anti-racism training is highly effective and gives employees a platform to discuss any concerns with coworkers openly and without fear of reprisal or punishment. Leadership roles especially should provide safe spaces where team members can express themselves without being subject to reprisals or punishment for doing so.
Diversity, equity and inclusion should not be confused as synonymous. Diversity refers to the makeup of your workforce while inclusion focuses more on how individuals feel within the office environment. To understand this distinction better, imagine diversity as your playlist for a party with mixed musical tastes; equity measures how well the music mixes; while inclusion deals with whether all your guests can dance.
Diverse workplaces not only help attract and retain top talent, they can also assist your company in breaking into new markets more successfully. According to Harvard Business Review research, organizations with higher levels of management diversity have a 70% greater likelihood of tapping into emerging consumer profiles than their more homogenous counterparts. Furthermore, Glassdoor research indicates job seekers prefer companies with strong diversity and inclusion policies over those without.
It’s Good for Employees
To ensure employee engagement in a diverse and inclusive workplace, employees need to feel their voices are being heard – the best way to achieve this goal is diversity equity and inclusion training (DEI). DEI training is more than a feel-good initiative; it can have direct financial benefits; companies with diverse workforces tend to see higher profits, better team morale, and increased rates of innovation than their homogenous counterparts.
Diversity and Inclusion training is invaluable for both newcomers to the job and veteran employees, alike. It teaches employees to identify and unlearn biases that prevent them from fully adopting an equitable and inclusive work culture while building strong relationships with colleagues who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Employees who attend diversity and inclusion training report higher levels of job satisfaction and stronger loyalty to their employer, and are more likely to engage in their jobs fully – helping to boost productivity while building up company brands and creating stronger company brands. In fact, one study revealed that when employees feel at home at work their productivity increases by 12%!
One of the key barriers to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace are unconscious biases that exist in everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or physical abilities. Unconscious bias can impede hiring practices, decision-making or interactions with coworkers – DEI training provides employees with tools they need to recognize these biases and overcome them.
Millennials and Gen Zers tend to be socially aware, preferring companies that take equity and inclusivity issues seriously. According to research, this demographic group is more likely to recommend companies where they’ve worked if they take steps towards equity and inclusivity.
As more employees from varied backgrounds enter the workplace, organizations must implement systems to support them effectively. This means providing all employees – from entry-level positions up to management roles – with clear and standardized training programs that they can follow at their own pace. A collaborative learning platform which enables course development is an excellent tool for this. Employees can give feedback on course content while sharing additional insights through feedback mechanisms built into this learning platform.
It’s Good for Your Company’s Culture
Diversity training provides employers with an opportunity to foster an environment in which employees can celebrate diversity while cooperating more efficiently, according to the 2022 DEI Throughout the Employee Lifecycle report. 75% of employers now mandate Diversity and Inclusion training for new hires.
An environment in which employees feel welcome and valued fosters a strong sense of belonging for employees, leading to higher productivity, satisfaction, lower absenteeism rates and greater employee retention. Furthermore, companies that prioritize diversity are 36% more profitable than their counterparts without such policies in place – making the case for diversity even stronger for numbers-focused business leaders.
An inclusive workplace allows for an array of perspectives and experiences, which is vital in driving innovation. According to Harvard Business Review, companies that excel at innovation tend to employ teams comprised of diverse individuals from diverse backgrounds who can work together effectively to identify new opportunities and meet customer demands more efficiently. Diversity training is crucial to creating an innovation-friendly culture in which all team members feel free to express themselves freely while contributing their individual perspectives.
As organizations welcome more diversity into the workforce, it is vital that organizations take measures to ensure all employees feel welcome in the workplace and have equal access to opportunities. Beyond welcoming diversity into the fold, organizations should offer training that addresses bias and discrimination as well as promotes empathy and allyship – such programs help foster an equitable work environment while decreasing risks such as harassment and discrimination in the office.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training should become part of your company culture over time. Utilizing an innovative learning platform such as 360Learning for this training shows employees that you value their input while encouraging them to bring all aspects of themselves into work each day.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) should be at the top of everyone’s priority list – employees, leadership teams, chief compliance officers. Investment in DEI will pay dividends in increased productivity, profitability and customer retention.
It’s Good for Your Bottom Line
As diversity, equity and inclusion discussions increase in popularity, more employees, leadership teams and compliance officers are searching for ways to get involved. Studies show that companies that prioritize diversity see positive results: those in the top quartile for ethnic diversity had 39% better financial performance than those in the bottom quartile; gender-diverse organizations are 21% more profitable. Diversity training can ensure your organization makes optimal use of its talented workers while realizing maximum returns from this investment.
Establishing a work culture where all employees feel they belong is vitally important for any business, as this fosters higher morale and productivity. Employees also tend to remain with companies who treat them fairly and recognize their unique identities – meaning lower turnover rates and cost savings on recruiting fees and training costs.
Just stating “we-welcome-all” statements on your website or job applications won’t do the trick – they must become part of your everyday processes and culture to bring real change. DEI training can help identify and eliminate biases present in systems, policies, or procedures.
Many managers struggle to be champions of diversity and inclusion, so they require tailored DEI training. Such instruction can provide tools to communicate effectively with diverse workers, address microaggressions, create a sense of belonging in teams, as well as the knowledge required to lead inclusively – essential skills for making any DEI initiatives succeed in any business environment.
Diversity training can also benefit your brand. In an increasingly divisive society, adopting DEI will show your business as being forward thinking by encouraging a respectful and inclusive workplace that employees aspire to join.