9 Ideas For Your Next DEI Initiative: The Best Ways To Build An Inclusive & Equitable Work Environment
As we move toward more diverse and inclusive workplaces, companies are implementing new policies and initiatives to support employee growth and development.
This has led to the creation of various diversity and inclusion initiatives, such as hiring practices that prioritize a diverse group of candidates over only a few people from the same background. DEI initiatives are important not only for the wellbeing of employees but also for the overall success of a company.
A recent Gallup poll showed that employees feel engaged at work when they have the opportunity to learn and grow (in an inclusive work environment). When people feel engaged at work, they are more productive; they are happier, they are healthier, and they stay with the company longer.
Whether you work in the office, have a hybrid workforce, or a remote team, there are many initiatives to build and nurture DEI in the workplace.
Before we dive into these practices, let’s understand what diversity entails and why you should take it seriously as a company.
What is DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)?
These three concepts should be thought of as siblings with a common goal of fairness and equality.
Diversity: Diversity refers to all the ways people differ from one another, including the various traits that set one group or person apart from another.
Equity: Equal access, fair treatment, equal opportunity, and advancement for all are goals of equity.
Inclusion: By deliberately encouraging each individual or group to contribute and take part in decision making, inclusion creates a culture where everyone feels welcome.
Michigan University’s Inaugural Chief Diversity Officer Robert Sellers likened diversity, equity and inclusion to various aspects of attending a party:
“Diversity is where everyone is invited to the party.
Inclusion means that everyone gets to contribute to the playlist.
Equity means that everyone has the opportunity to dance/experience the music.”
Why does DEI matter in the workplace?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to the success of any organization. This is not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it makes good organizational and business sense.
Diversity brings different perspectives and ideas to the table, which leads to better decisions.
Inclusion means that everyone has a voice and gets a chance to contribute their ideas. This will lead to more creativity in the workplace, which will cause better products or services being created.
Equity can help reduce bias in the workplace, which can be very harmful to employees and customers.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion help create an inclusive environment where employees feel they belong and can contribute.
DE&I also help companies attract top talent, and build trust with customers and employees.
How do you incorporate DEI in the workplace?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a business imperative because together they can create a safe and vibrant working environment. Companies who harness DEI as part of their culture see a clear competitive advantage. Here are significant activities to champion DEI in the workplace.
1. Encourage ideas and feedback in the workplace
The workplace is a place where employees are expected to be engaged and to feel comfortable enough to share ideas and feedback. However, there are some factors that can hinder that from happening. This can include lack of trust, fear of consequences, or lack of communication channels.
In order to encourage ideas and feedback in the workplace, employers should make their employees feel safe by fostering an environment where they can share their thoughts without the fear of negative consequences. Employers should also provide opportunities for employees to communicate with each other through more channels.
2. Play DEI-themed games
DEI themed games are games designed to include diversity and inclusion elements for different purposes. They are usually focused on building diverse teams, creating equal opportunities, and giving everyone a voice. There are a lot of games you can play to help your team understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. The goal is to create awareness, empathy and understanding for people who belong to different races, religions, cultures, or sexual orientations. Bar None Games has many trivia games that offer a perfect way to bring people together and create connections under the banner of diversity and inclusion. With a variety of themes, you’ll get one for any occasion.
3. Start using gender-neutral language in your team
In order to keep the team’s language neutral, we should always use gender-neutral terms to refer to all genders. Gender-neutral language is a way to eliminate or minimize the use of gender-specific words in a sentence. The goal of this is to avoid the implication that only one gender is involved. This can be done by using “they” as a singular pronoun or by using “he or she or them” when referring to a singular person, depending on how they would want to be addressed (please ask your employees which pronouns they identify with and prefer). For example, instead of “manpower” or “manned”, you could use “human resources” or “staffed” to avoid gendered language.
4. Help your team create and nurture affinity groups
Most times, people who work in the same office will have common interests. Forming affinity groups in such environments can create a sense of belongingness and eliminate isolation. This is to help people connect and form relationships with those who are interested in the same things they are. These groups can include things like sports teams, hobbies, or even something as simple as favorite colors. But you can also help direct the creation and building of affinity teams related to diversity and inclusion, such as Black employees, Latinx and Hispanic employees, and more. These groups should be managed in a way that allows them to serve as support networks, and not as a place of division. Employees can find out more about each other and their interests through the group.
5. Create a team-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion policy
As a team, diversity and inclusion are critical to your success. They are also critical for the well-being of all employees. Your diversity and inclusion policy is a set of guidelines that should outline your team’s values and goals towards a diverse, equal, and inclusive work environment. It should be a living document that is updated periodically to reflect changes in the organization, industry, or community.
6. Your next recruitment should be diverse
The first step in recruiting diverse workers is to have an open mind and be willing to look outside the box for candidates. There are many ways that companies can find diverse talent, such as social media and online job boards. Aside from having an open mind, you need to make sure the company is a place where people from different backgrounds feel comfortable applying. Of course, you should never be discriminating against employees based on their ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
7. Institute equal pay policies
Equal pay policies are important for organizations to implement. Equal compensation should be given to employees in your organization who are in the same position and have comparable levels of expertise – and there should be no exceptions to this rule. It is important to have equal pay policies across your organization because it will help to ensure that all employees are being paid the same, no matter their gender. It also helps to create a more diverse workforce, as well as reduce the risk of discrimination.
8. Build and use a DEI-oriented calendar
It’s important that your company’s schedule represents diversity while attempting to promote an inclusive and diverse workplace. A variety of holidays, occasions, and celebrations from different cultures, races, and religions should be on your calendar. In order to create relevant DEI programs and events, it should also take into account significant month-long events and activities like Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month, and more.
9. Champion open lines of communication
Open lines of communication are important for a healthy work environment. This is because it is a way to get honest feedback from your colleagues, and it also helps you stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the company.
Host virtual DEI activities for your remote team
It is a good idea to host your own DEI activities for your remote team. This will help them feel more connected and like they are an important part of the team. Whether you’re planning a stand-alone virtual event or looking to include short team building activities between virtual meetings, Bar None Games has a variety of events to meet all your needs.
