Employees who work at companies characterized by diversity, equity, and inclusion tend to have more satisfactory work experiences. On the other hand, organizations fostering DEI at work (diversity, equity, and inclusion) achieve enhanced employee retention and heightened employee engagement and performance.
So, what is DEI at work? How can it be achieved? Why is it important to have workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives? And what does equity in the workplace have to offer?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion, collectively known as DEI, are organizations’ policies and practices that ensure all employees are treated equally, fairly, and respectfully, while also providing them all with equal access to opportunities for growth regardless of their backgrounds, personal beliefs, and other differences.
DEI comprises three main concepts or key notions, and they are:
A diverse workplace has a diverse workforce in which all groups of society are reflected and represented. Such workforces include employees from different groups of race, age, ethnicity, religion, and others, not discriminating against a group or excluding another.
Equity is the second pillar of DEI at work, and it is the equal and fair treatment of all employees regardless of their differences, in addition to equal and fair access to growth opportunities and career advancement.
Equity in the workplace enables all groups to fully participate and contribute to the organization, achieving a more satisfying employee experience and higher levels of performance and engagement.
A work environment characterized by inclusion makes all employees feel valued, respected, and supported, no matter their backgrounds. It is worth noting that inclusion at work goes beyond culture, and it includes the practices and policies that support and regulate it.
Therefore, diversity, equity, and inclusion operate together to achieve enhanced levels of employee satisfaction, engagement, and performance. In turn, that leads to various significant benefits for businesses.
DEI at work is a top priority for employers aiming to achieve their desired business outcomes, reach their milestones, and accomplish significant growth. That is due to the incredible benefits that DEI delivers, and some of them are as follows:
Achieving DEI at work requires handling a few challenges; some of them are:
Strategies for Achieving Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
There are various initiatives and strategies for achieving diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace, such as:
Collecting feedback can be done through Zenithr, an HR software solution and platform that provides carefully curated surveys and assessments. These surveys address various aspects of the employee experience and employees’ well-being, including their emotional and financial well-being.
Not only that, but they also offer accurate data analysis and recommended action plans. Discover more about Zenithr to learn about this vital tool for DEI at work.