Embracing and Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
The push for diversity and inclusion in the workforce is stronger than ever. Millennials are not only the largest group in the American workforce, but they are also the group playing the most significant role in the movement to diversify workplaces across the country.
This movement has stepped onto a large and global stage and is performing brilliantly. A recent survey from HR Dive reveals the 78% of employees want to be a member of a work environment that promotes equality among all genders, races, ages, religions, disabilities, and sexual orientations. What is so disheartening is that according to that same survey, more than 50% of employees feel that their employers aren’t meeting that standard.
By embracing diversity and inclusion in your workplace and communicating to job recruits and current employees that you share those same passions, you can truly set your company apart from the rest.
Creating a diverse and inclusive work environment requires more than just hiring people of different backgrounds. That is not going to solve your problem. What you need to do is ensure that each of your employees feels welcomed and that they are a valued member of the team.
Here are some steps and tips for creating a diverse and inclusive work culture:
- Organize diversity and inclusion training for all employees frequently. Education is vital, especially with the movement happening every day, all around the world. Keep the conversation going and keep it open. Part of diversity and inclusion is being open-minded to everyone’s different perspectives and life experiences.
- Address issues in real time. Have routine discussions with your employees about how they feel in the work environment. This session is not meant to point fingers and put the blame on specific workers. Its purpose is to talk to each employee and see what you can do to ensure each employee is in an environment that allows them to thrive. Also, when an employee comes to you with a negative situation, you need to take immediate action. You need to prove to individuals that you and their coworkers accept them.
- Try changing the layout of the office and how you run meetings. A large part of diversity and inclusion is making sure that you listen to everyone’s voice. By sitting in a circle formation or passing around a microphone or object will allow each person, despite their personality type, to provide their own insight. Your goal is to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and happy.
Creating and embracing a diverse and inclusive work culture as numerous benefits for your company as well. Not only does it boost the overall morale of the office, but studies prove that it can also help improve performance among competitors and profitability.
Make sure that you are awarding your socially conscious employees with the best benefits packages. Providing benefits that meet your workers’ needs can also help to improve productivity in the workplaces.
To learn more about group benefits, call Avery Hall Insurance Group in Salisbury or Easton, today!