How to Create an Inclusive Workplace

HOW TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE

Submitted by Malinda Ware, Program Director & Chair of DEI Sullivan

Now more than ever, employees are looking for workplaces that make them feel accepted, welcome, and safe. Diversity and inclusion are important values many businesses are getting more serious about, and employees are specifically trying to work at the businesses putting these values at the forefront. Creating an inclusive work environment doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it is something you must be intentional and actionable about. When it feels like the work is done, there’s always more to be doing. If an inclusive workplace culture is your goal, keep reading to gain insight on how to make it a reality. Looking into online therapy services might be beneficial if you aren’t experiencing inclusion in the workplace.

What is Inclusivity?

Inclusivity can be thought of as a way of life, a mindset, and a process. Inclusivity, therefore, is about leveling the playing field for everyone and ensuring all people feel valued.

Why is Inclusivity Important?

Inclusion is important because it creates a sense of belonging and fuels acceptance. Humans are unique individuals. We all have different needs, interests, personalities, and identities. While everyone should ideally be accepted exactly as they are, this isn’t always the case. People can be put at a disadvantage because of their differences. When people are scared of differences, whether they be racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or otherwise, they might exclude others from that place of fear. Inclusion, on the other hand, allows tolerance to grow so that people can be accepting of each other despite how different they might be from one another. When people are included, they are empowered to be themselves, which benefits everyone.

What Settings Does Inclusion Apply To?

Each and every day, there are an endless number of opportunities to include or exclude someone. Creating a society that is more diverse and accepting often begins in the home and then stretches out from there. However, inclusion applies in the workplace, at school, in public, and anywhere else you can think of. Of course, inclusivity will look different in each of these settings, but the core values will remain the same.

Part I: The Characteristics of an Inclusive Workplace

Most people want to show up to work and feel comfortable enough to be themselves. Although a workplace can choose to strip people of their individuality sometimes (such as by requiring a uniform or natural hair colors), in general, there are still plenty of ways to show employees that they are accepted as they are. The characteristics of a diverse and inclusive workplace will vary, meaning there is a lot of freedom when deciding what your workplace will look and feel like. Some common characteristics of an inclusive workplace can include:

• Openness to change:

When a workplace realizes that the environment they’ve created isn’t as diverse or accepting as they’d like, they must be open to making changes to improve the situation.

When workplaces are closed off to change or fearful of it, it’s hard to create more positive outcomes. • Diversity: Although the people at a company may all be very different from one another, this should be something that brings them together

rather than pushing them apart. Workplace diversity can increase innovation, creativity, flexibility, productivity, and collaboration. Work environments that value diversity will usually have employees with a wide range of talents, thought processes, personalities, and skills.

There should be diversity at every level within the company, including different cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles, among other identities.

Together, they will work toward a common goal while retaining their individuality. • Resources: Employees need to know that their company’s leaders care about their well-being, beyond just being productive workers.

Inclusive workplaces attempt to provide as many resources as they can to their employees, whether educational or otherwise. Some workplaces even have diversity and inclusion groups as a resource for their employees to confide in when they have a concern. • Respect: When employees know they’re respected at their place of work, they feel valued and important.

This can increase their productivity and create a more cooperative environment. Inclusive workplaces focus on respect by hearing the different perspectives

of their employees and taking the time to understand where they’re coming from. They realize that differences are to be embraced, accepted, and celebrated.

• Sense of belonging:

Employees who feel included at work will naturally feel a sense of belonging. They may not think or act like the colleagues next to them, but at least they know they are accepted as they are. • Fairness: Everyone deserves to be treated equally at work no matter what their title is. When employees are recognized because of what they’ve accomplished and not because of their position, they’re more likely to feel pride in their work.

As a result, they’re able to be more productive and believe that the work they do matters. • Curiosity: Asking questions is paramount to learning more so that improvements can be made. Respectful curiosity can help a company’s leaders discover problem areas and things that may need to be changed. Assuming everything is fine as is leads to stagnation, which decreases productivity.

Employers should always be focused on being better than they were the day before.

• Cooperation and

teamwork: Inclusive workplaces focus on teamwork and healthy cooperation, even when there are disagreements.

They recognize that seeing things differently is a chance for growth and not a setback.

• Ability to voice

concerns: Every employee should feel that they have a voice at work. They should know their opinion matters despite their title or how long they’ve been at the company.

Inclusive workplaces take these concerns to heart and, rather than simply expressing their apologies, they work to create change through tangible action. There are many more examples of inclusion in the workplace but looking for these can be a great place to start. Belonging to an inclusive workplace can make you feel like you’re on top of the world. It is something every employer should strive to have, as well as each employee. Building a diverse and inclusive work environment does take time, effort, and learning, but it’s always worth the positive outcomes you’re sure to see. To be continued in Part II: Non-Inclusive Workplace Characteristics

Source: Wiederhold, Sydney. “How to Create An Inclusive Workplace.” betterhelp. September 30, 2022. https://www.betterhelp.com/ advice/inclusive-mental-health/ how-to-create-an-inclusive-workplace/.