Inclusive workplace culture isn’t something that happens right away. In fact, it can take several months, or even years, to improve equity, inclusion, and diversity in any workplace. Once you have made improvements, you and your team can reap the benefits of better problem-solving skills, productivity, and even employee engagement.
If you’re not yet sure where to begin, the tips below can help change your business for the better:
Partner with Job Agencies
Everyone has the right to stable employment, regardless of their barriers or background. Though you might typically only hire job applicants who put in a resume, consider looking at inclusive employment agencies to enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship.
The employee gets to benefit from stable employment that allows them to live an independent life, while the employer may benefit from increased profits, among other benefits, according to economic studies.
Develop Training Programs
Being aware of bias in the workplace can put you on the path to stopping it in its tracks. As a result, training programs that focus on cultural differences, equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives may benefit your employees more than you might think.
By making such training programs optional instead of mandatory, you may also see a shift in behaviors. Such training can help people learn new communication styles, conflict management techniques, and problem-solving skills.
Diversify Your Teams
People with different life values, backgrounds, and cultures all have unique ways of managing problems and projects. A workplace that diversifies its team may be able to enjoy a cross-section of talent that allows for more creativity, innovation, and novel thinking.
Plenty of CEOs and business owners have already seen the value in this one simple action. If you frequently split your workforce into teams or departments, diversification in this area is an ideal place to begin.
Make Your Workplace Accessible
Given that millions of people live with some form of disability, it makes sense for workplaces to be accessible by all, regardless of any barriers they face. The reality can be much different.
Not every workplace is set up for people with disabilities, nor does every business owner have a plan for how they could accommodate a worker with a disability. Even if you don’t currently cater to anyone in that position, it can be worth ensuring that everyone with the skills you need, regardless of their obstacles in life, can work in your business.
Acknowledge Cultural Holidays
Christmas and Easter are two holidays that many people around the world celebrate. However, that doesn’t mean all people celebrate those holidays. You can become a more diverse and inclusive workplace simply by acknowledging the many other cultural holidays and events people celebrate in their spare time.
Making allowances for religious holidays that aren’t otherwise celebrated by the masses can go a long way toward making your workplace a welcoming, accepting environment for all.
Look At Your Anti-Discrimination Policies
You may have an anti-discrimination policy in your workplace, but when was the last time you took an in-depth look at it to see if your business practices align with it? There are many things you can do to prevent discrimination in the workplace, such as using inclusive language in job advertisements and adopting hiring processes designed to reduce bias, like blind hiring programs.
Sometimes, it’s not until you look at your everyday business operations that you realize you may not be as inclusive and diverse as you thought. Small changes may make a world of difference, so consider any or all of the six tips above.
