2023-08-09 19:37:24
When you talk about the future of work, it often includes a lot of new and innovative technology. However, for the future it is also key to think about a diverse and inclusive workforce. This means having people with a variety of perspectives, cultures and experiences. In this way they can meet to innovate and work as a team towards a common goal.
Although companies strive to be more diverse, statistics show that achieving this is not as easy as wishing it was. Adecco Argentina, a subsidiary of the world’s leading comprehensive Human Resources consulting company, shares four ways to make the work team more diverse and inclusive.
• Understand the differences between diversity and inclusion
“Diversity” and “inclusion” are sometimes used to express the need to be more reflective of society as a whole, and while they complement each other, they are actually two different things.
Diversity, in its most basic form, means incorporating people of different cultures, religions, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages and genders. Inclusion goes one step further: it means making all people feel that different perspectives are welcome, respected, and have equal access to opportunities to contribute to the success of the organization. Diversity should be thought of as the “what” and inclusion as the “how”.
• Analyze the culture and environment of the company
To define where changes are needed, you can look at certain signals to see if you are (intentionally or not) excluding a variety of employees. Asking questions about the day-to-day work mode helps.
“While companies are striving to be more diverse, statistics show that doing so is not as easy as wishing.”
For example: is it common for people to do a significant amount of work outside of standard hours? That could exclude parents or caregivers. Do we provide private spaces for employees who need quiet places to attend to personal business during breaks?
• Embrace an inclusive workplace model
When employees feel they need to hide an essential part of themselves because they fear they won’t “fit in,” it leads to low morale and high turnover.
One way to make people feel safer is to celebrate different cultural and religious practices. Many organizations have already taken steps to make traditional Christmas festivities more inclusive. It simply means including other holidays that might be important to members of the company. It does not have to be limited to religious holidays.
“Diversity, in its most basic form, means incorporating people of different cultures, religions, abilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages and genders.”
Throughout the year it is advisable to highlight different types of festivities or celebrations (such as Women’s Day or Chinese New Year) to help educate teams and show how a wealth of cultural perspectives contribute to company goals, industry goals, etc.
• Ensure that leaders model inclusive behavior
In any organization, the tone of daily work is set by top management. For this reason, it is necessary to analyze the executives of the organization. Is there a gender imbalance on the steering committee? Do they come from different places? What kind of teams are our executives building? Do they also reflect diversity in the workplace? If they look too much the same, then you have to start changing. There is no need to fire valuable members, but there is a need to ensure that executives are trained in diversity and inclusion, and that they are aware that it is a strategic priority of the company.
There is no perfect point for a company to be “diverse enough” or “inclusive enough”. It is a goal that requires continuous work.
When interviewing and hiring it is suggested to follow the “Rooney Rule”. It’s official NFL policy that means a certain number of interviewees for any position must be minorities, to help ensure minority candidates have a valid shot. It does not guarantee diversity and inclusion in hiring, but rather more equitable access to job opportunities.
There is no perfect point for a company to be “diverse enough” or “inclusive enough”. It is a goal that requires continuous work.
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