Diversity, Equality & Inclusion in the Workplace

Gone are the days where companies can just speak about diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) on significant and noticeable dates to appear to be doing the “right thing”. Now, DEI must truly be seen for what it is – a fundamental pillar for all businesses.  When it’s done right it can be a differentiating factor between competing companies. Not only does DEI impact the performance of an organisation, it can also influence the quality of talent an organisation attracts which ultimately contributes to performance.

What is DEI in the Workplace?

If we take a broad look at Australian communities, we see representatives from all walks of life. A variety of demographics, wide range of cultural backgrounds, people with different beliefs and sexual orientations all living together going about their lives. DEI in the workplace is creating an environment that reflects the community, it is a safe place that is accepting of all individuals and everyone’s unique differences, where everyone has equal access to information and opportunities to follow their chosen career path.

Diversity incorporates the differences amongst all individuals. This includes age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion and culture. In an environment where these differences are valued, respected and sought after it enriches a workplace with diverse thinking, insights and experiences.

Equality refers to how individuals with unique differences are treated in the workplace, ensuring all employees have equal access to opportunities, training and further education. It is important to understand that not all employees have had the same privileges throughout their lives and careers, therefore, some people may require tailored support. This could include considering the needs of people living with disability and the adjustments they may require when carrying out the duties of their role.

Inclusion brings it all together, ensuring all employees feel valued, they’re able to contribute to the workplace and have their voices heard. An inclusive environment promotes collaboration and leads to innovative thinking as individuals feel safe to bring their full selves to work.

To read a more in-depth overview of DEI, visit Diversity Australia.

Why is Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Important in the Workplace?

For managers and business leaders they’re constantly reviewing processes, analysing performance and looking for ways to gain an advantage in a highly competitive market. DEI can play an important role in creating that advantage. Employees are one of the most valuable assets to any organisation and to achieve long term success, businesses need to attract and retain high-quality talent. These days, job applicants are being influenced by DEI initiatives when determining which position to accept or even apply for.

Many Australian businesses and Government bodies are taking a positive stance on DEI and are well aware of the ethical and commercial aspects that support DEI ideas. In the past few years, many organisations have experienced staff shortages and by embracing DEI, it has proven to be a major contributor to overcoming these challenges. There is always room for improvement in the DEI space, although in comparison to other countries Australia is continuing to progress and reap the benefits of DEI. Looking abroad, countries such as the US have experienced major rollbacks in DEI initiatives due to political shifts which has resulted in major companies scaling back or completely scrapping DEI programs.

The Benefits of DEI in the Workplace

When organisations look at DEI as a business strategy rather than a tick box, they will start to experience the many benefits of what DEI can offer. Think about it, if there is a room full of like-minded people from similar backgrounds and life experiences discussing a topic, chances are their views and opinions will be similar. When you add people to the conversation from different walks of life with different life experiences suddenly you broaden the conversation by introducing new insights and perspectives.  New perspectives force a group to look at things from a different angle, consider alternate approaches which leads to improved collaboration and innovation. Ultimately, the benefits of DEI are compounding, the more DEI becomes embedded within a workplace the employees feel more valued, heard and have the confidence to speak up and contribute to discussions due to the supportive and safe environment.

How Employers Can Implement DEI Strategies

For organisations getting started on their DEI journey it can be a daunting process of not knowing what, where or how to start. atWork Australia are experts in supporting organisations to develop inclusive recruitment strategies and can be your recruitment partner to provide support through any stage of your DEI journey. Below are a few suggestions of how to improve DEI within your organisation.

Inclusive Hiring Practices

When introducing DEI to a workplace the hiring process is as good a place start. To experience the benefits of DEI, first you need to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to feel welcome and have the ability to apply for vacancies. It may not be intentional, but some hiring processes can exclude people from the process. Whether that’s because they can’t access the information due to health or language barriers, the content of the job ad is not inclusive, or the location of an interview is not accessible. These issues might seem small and insignificant to some people, however, it could be the difference between applying or not applying for others.

By adjusting the text/body of a job ad to be more inclusive, ensuring the content is accessible for assistive technology and informs applicants that alternative arrangements can be discussed, can allow an applicant to feel welcomed and encouraged to apply. Read more about how to build an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Training & Education

Like any new initiative or process in a workplace, if you want it to be successful, employees need to undertake training and education to become familiar with the new initiative and processes. DEI is no different.

It is important to provide training and education to employees so they can fully embrace DEI and understand why it is important and the value that it creates. The DEI space is constantly evolving and it’s essential that organisations stay up to date with the current initiatives to ensure they can experience the benefits of DEI and continue to improve their processes. Read more about the importance of diversity awareness training in the workplace.

Measure & Report on Progress

To ensure your organisation is maximising the benefits of DEI initiatives, clear targets and objectives must be set so they can be measured and reported on to evaluate the benefits of the investment and identify areas for further improvement. To gather this data, qualitative and quantitative reviews will need to be conducted on all areas of the business. This could include reviewing the recruitment and onboarding process, training and development systems or the functionality of the website.  By conducting comprehensive reviews, it will provide insights into which processes are working and where further improvement is required. Read more about how to measure diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Challenges Around DEI & The Future in the Workplace

After discussing a couple of the benefits of DEI, it seems like a no brainer. However, it must be noted that implementing DEI initiatives can be a difficult process that takes time and effort. These initiatives need the by in and active support from leaders who believe in the purpose of DEI. It takes more than a one-off lunch and learn information session in recognition of a specific date on the calendar, the effort needs to be consistent year-round, with leaders modelling inclusive behaviours and holding each other accountable for behaviours that don’t align with the vision of the organisation. The more we can discuss the benefits of DEI and shift away from just being “the right thing to do”, more organisations will embrace DEI and create more inclusive workplaces for all. If you need support on your DEI journey, make an enquiry with atWork Australia today.