Diversity and inclusion in the workplace, or a diverse and inclusive workplace, is a work environment where everyone, regardless of who they are or what they do for the company, feels equally engaged and supported in all areas of the workplace

Inclusion and diversity have become buzzwords in recent years, but they are more than a fad. They are vital elements to a company’s success. A diverse, inclusive workforce draws on the knowledge and experiences of a broader cross-section of society and brings the organization closer to the people to whom they provide their products and/or services

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What is the difference between diversity and inclusion?

Diversity and inclusion are two interrelated concepts, but they are not interchangeable

The difference between diversity and inclusion is that diversity is the representation of different people in an organization, inclusion is ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute to and influence every part and level of a workplace. Inclusion is ensuring that everyone feels safe and can bring their full, unique selves to work

Do you have diversity in hiring, in each of your departments and in your leadership? Or do you have a work environment where 50% of employees are women, but 0% of women are managers? Do you have a good representation of employees of color in general, but are they all in the same department?”

An environment where many different genders, races, nationalities and sexual orientations and identities are present, but where only the perspectives of certain groups are valued or have any authority or influence, may be diverse but not inclusive

What is tokenism?

Diversity without true inclusion is often called “tokenism.” In an inclusive workplace, not only is there a diversity of people present, but there is a diversity of people who are engaged, developed, empowered and trusted by the company

Why is diversity and inclusion in the workplace important?

Research has shown many benefits of a diverse and inclusive workplace:

• • Higher revenue growth

• • Increased willingness to innovate

• • More opportunities to attract diverse talent

• • 5.4 times higher employee retention

In short, inclusion in the workplace is one of the most important keys to employee retention. If employees do not feel that their ideas, presence or contributions are truly valued or taken seriously, they will eventually leave the organization

Research on corporate culture shows that when employees trust that they, and their colleagues, will be treated fairly regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or age, they

• • 9.8 times more likely to enjoy going to work

• • 6.3 times more proud of their work

An inclusive work culture will therefore not only help attract diverse talent, but also help retain the diverse talent. Employee engagement is one of the pillars of talent management

How do you promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

Forbes asked the Young Entrepreneur Council, an association of the world’s most passionate, driven entrepreneurs, for advice on creating a diverse inclusive culture. From that came the following seven tips:

1. 1. Make it an ongoing process
      Diversity is not a promotion, but an ongoing process and realize as an organization that it is an essential part of growth strategy.
   2. Hire leaders who understand the importance of inclusion and diversity
      To promote inclusiveness and diversity in the workplace, you must have managers who embody the same values
   3. Always keep an “open mind”
      Go into every meeting with new people without expectations and assumptions. Listen to new perspectives from people from all walks of life.
   4. Help employees feel comfortable
      It is essential to create an environment where employees feel free to express themselves based on their unique perspectives.
   5. Make diversity a verb
      Actively seek out opportunities beyond the usual; network with new companies and expand the potential hiring pool.
   6. Create flexible mandatory holidays
      You can promote inclusiveness and respect for other cultures by establishing flexible mandatory holidays. This means assigning some days as company vacations, and setting some days by region
   7. Hold regular culture days
      One way to promote inclusion or cultural diversity in the workplace is to hold regular culture days. Have members from different backgrounds speak about their culture on this day

Summary

An organization is only as diverse and inclusive as its employees. Giving diversity and inclusiveness a role in corporate values is an important first step. But only when employees actually exude and live these values are they part of the culture. Then diversity and inclusiveness becomes part of the authenticity of the organization