The Women in the Workplace 2023 report by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org provides an intersectional survey at the several barriers and biases faced by Asian, Black, Latina and LGBTQ+ women and women with disabilities at workplaces. Diversity bias has not only confined itself to women employees but is also applicable for employees from other gender. It has become one of the primary problems in employee retention and other confusions at the workplace. Many international surveys have reported that men and women of color have remained underrepresented for close to a decade now all along the corporate pipeline.
“Improving employees’ experience of inclusion in the workplace—which we define as feeling valued and respected; believing your perspectives matter; feeling happy, motivated, and like you belong; and feeling that your mental and physical well-being is supported—delivers enormous business value”, mentioned Joe Davis, MD, BCG.
In order to incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and respect (DIER), contemporary organizations are trying to create spaces where people from different ethnicities and backgrounds are able to collaborate and share ideas and foster a culture of innovation. Various diversity management methodologies are being implemented in this regard.
Market report shows that job candidates are being drawn to organizations that have embraced and welcomed diversity. There is a growing need for organizations to maintain good diversity scores for the right talents to get attracted. This scenario is getting more prevalent with the young generation of candidates who are interested in providing service to a workplace where there is diversity and the right means to preserve it. A research by Stanford University has also indicated to candidates are more like to engage with job opportunities in companies with good diversity scores.
One notable example in this regard is Microsoft. It has consistently been acknowledged for its efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within the workplace. The company has implemented various programs and policies aimed at creating a diverse and inclusive environment.
It is important for organizations to take initiatives in understanding the unique capabilities in employees right from the stage of on-boarding. Each and every individual has some or the other capabilities that need proper representation at the workplace. This is emerged as one of the effective processes for diversity management in organizations across the world. Creating positive associations inside the organizations creates a welcoming work environment and adds value to core operations of businesses. This is eliminating the risk of underrepresentation of candidates across communities by asking the right questions and developing targeted programs that highlight capabilities and opinions of all employees.
A notable company that supports diversity management through targeted programs is Salesforce. The company has implemented a variety of initiatives and strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within its organization.
There is a dire need for organizations to uphold individual opinions of employees in order to build a diverse culture and drive business growth. There has been severe underrepresentation of different sects of people and especially women in various sectors that specifically include applied science related employments and recognitions. Organizations are slowly coming out of this dilemma by creating an all- inclusive culture at the workplace. Importance is being given to individual integrity irrespective their race, gender and ethnicity. Organizations are able to thrive in the dynamic business landscape by employing a diverse workforce and welcoming values and opinions of all employees.
A company that supports diversity management by upholding individual integrity is Patagonia. The company has built a strong reputation for its ethical practices, social responsibility, and commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace.
By expressing the intention to create a diverse workplace is not enough. Organizations need to take definitive steps in order to ensure that proper diversity management is being done at the workplace. The aspect of diversity management is being considered as one of the primary organizational goals currently and is one of the primary factors for the success of an organization. They need to create a set of objectives that need to be achieved to create a diverse workplace and measure the progress of these through qualitative and quantitative reports available in the market.
A company that supports diversity management through defined organizational goals is Google. The company has established clear objectives and metrics to track progress and ensure accountability in its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
DEIR is being a catalyst for transformation in diversity management in organizations that is not only driving employee satisfaction, but also being a crucial object for organizational success. Various other initiatives are being taken by organizations in order to create a workplace that welcomes diversity and fosters and inclusive culture all across the organizational hierarchy.