There are many ways to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, and we present to you some of the best solutions. You will learn how to improve DEI and what actions are necessary to take. Keep reading to find out more.
The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be one of the most difficult leadership tests of company executives around the world. They must not only safeguard the health of their staff and consumers, but they must also deal with widespread interruption to their operations, plan for recovery, and prepare to reinvent their business models for the ‘new normal.’ In this difficult scenario, the goal of improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) may easily fall by the wayside, reversing the hard progress made by many companies in recent years. Diversity, equity and inclusion, on the other hand, is a major enabler of company performance. Companies with CEOs that welcome a diverse range of abilities and opinions are more likely to emerge stronger from the crisis. In a nutshell, now is the time to embrace DE&I in the workplace.
Why does DEI matter?
DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and it is an important part of the company’s culture. It includes the practices, policies, and strategies that are part of the company’s mission to hire and retain all the employees, no matter their religion, race, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, national origin, marital status, or veteran status.
All of these factors should not be important for the company’s HR teams when the new candidates want to become part of the company. DEI is an important strategy that allows the company to have employees from all kinds of backgrounds and cultural histories.
As a result, the company will have the proper DEI structure that will speak the language of tolerance and mutual respect.
How to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are very important factors for the entire company culture. To improve DEI in the workplace, you must take the necessary steps that will lead to improvements. Here are expert recommended solutions on how to improve DEI in the workplace.
1. Examine the data
It is important to see where you are when it comes to metrics. This will require the proper collecting and analysis of the data that are related to the people inside your organization. Once you have the whole demographics of your organization, you can set benchmarks and metrics for the future goals in DEI that you want to achieve.
2. Pay attention to the hiring process
You should widen the actual area where you look for new employees. There are many places where you can find ideal candidates, and you should do the proper research to discover these places. Go beyond the usual places, and tap into the places that you have not used until now when it comes to searching for talents.
3. Set the proper and measurable targets
You can be successful in fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce simply by setting measurable targets. You can set the targets that are reasonable and manageable, and these targets should be aligned to the overall strategy of the company when it comes to DEI.
As an example, you can take companies like Adidas and Microsoft. These companies employ people from very diverse backgrounds and they offer them a chance to foster their abilities.
4. Hire for culture contribution
Instead of hiring for culture fit, you should hire for culture contribution. You should ask yourself what kind of experience, perspective, and background can the new candidate bring to the table and how these abilities can be used in practical applications.
5. Involve the entire team
All team members in your company should be part of the DEI initiatives. Each member can bring their own perspective and vision about the values and contributions that are important for the company.
6. Collect feedback
It is very important to collect feedback from the current employees. Surveys, suggestion boxes, or employee resource groups are an ideal way to see how your employees think and what can be improved when it comes to the DEI.
7. Have the lines of communication
There are many communication paths that you can take if you want to hear your employees’ voice. You can use Slack for communication, or have always-on feedback mechanisms that allow the employees to communicate freely about any kind of subject.
8. Promote the culture of free communication
You can work on promoting a culture where it is okay to speak up and point out the relevant issues. With this practice, your employees will be more open and more comfortable speaking their minds.
9. Offer DEI education
There are many DEI education paths that you can take, and some of the most important are training, speaker series, event sponsorship programs, and other venues that can be useful for DEI education.
10. Have a fair hiring process
Make sure that you have a fair hiring process where every candidate has equal chances to get a job. This will improve DEI in the workplace and leave a positive impression on the culture.