How to Improve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace

McKinsey studies reveal that the business case for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace is growing stronger than ever. Organization leaders are discovering more and more that diverse opinions, experiences, and ideas are keys to success. 

 

  • Highly inclusive companies are more likely to hit their financial goals by up to 120%.
  • Innovation that stems from diversity is a competitive advantage.
  • Diverse, inclusive environments encourage better team building, more retention, and help companies reach a wider audience.

 

To enjoy the many benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, you have to build a company culture that celebrates it. Here’s how:

Involve Everyone

Every member of your team should play a role in developing your company’s culture. Encourage employees to keep diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace at the top of their minds by:

 

  • Discussing DEI programs in the on-boarding process
  • Encouraging participation in employee resource groups
  • Asking for employee feedback to gather ways to improve your DEI efforts
  • Sharing feedback and KPIs in meetings
  • Sharing your DEI accomplishments on your company website

Understand Unconscious Bias - And Manage It

Vanderbilt University defines unconscious bias as “prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person, or groups compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair.” 

 

As such, certain people benefit from unconscious bias, while others are penalized because of it. 

 

Once you understand bias, you can build awareness and create change. Unconscious bias training is especially important, because these biases don’t necessarily represent your conscious beliefs. 

 

As a leader, you can address this by helping your employees understand the impact of unconscious bias and identify what actions, policies, or procedures are strengthening these biases. You can also encourage them to assess their unconscious bias by taking the Implicit Association Test

 

Another way to help manage bias is by fostering more inclusive environments and encouraging employees to be inquisitive about cultural differences. By being open-minded, respecting, and embracing the experiences of people from different walks of life, you’ll become more culturally competent.

Understand Inclusivity

To celebrate inclusivity, you must create a culture where people feel comfortable in their work environments. A co-worker who identifies as a lesbian shouldn’t feel awkward putting pictures of her spouse and children. Your co-worker who identifies as Muslim shouldn’t feel like going to their car to pray because they don’t want to advertise their religion. Things like this can take a toll on people.

 

Employees who feel invisible, unsafe, or uncomfortable in the workplace can lose motivation and become disengaged. It could also lead to them seeking jobs that are more outwardly accepting of their cultures.

Build a Fair Hiring Process

Look at your job descriptions and remove words that are more masculine or feminine-leaning, like “headstrong,” “self-reliant,” or “affectionate.” Here’s a full list of gender-coded words

 

When conducting interviews, ask every candidate the same questions, and have those questions reviewed by peers to edit out bias. Also, consider removing any information from resumes irrelevant to the decision-making process, like names and addresses.

Pay Equity

The wage gap is real and problematic. According to Payscale:

 

  • Women earn 82 cents for every dollar men make in 2021.
  • Men make more than women in every racial demographic
  • Over a 40-year career, men make an average of $850,000 more than women

 

Create a compensation strategy based on metrics like average salary and range penetration. Also, don’t ask for a candidate’s salary history. Doing so can further perpetuate wage gaps and widen them over time.

Personalize One-on-One Discussions

Take the time to bond with your employees. Learn about them as individuals and what they care about. The more comfortable they feel, the more likely they are to speak their mind and share what’s important to them. Share your feelings as well. By showing them your human side, you can learn and grow together. 

 

By taking these steps to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, you’ll soon have a much stronger, inviting, and more productive team.