Diversity and Inclusion: Towards a Better Workplace

Diversity in the workplace is having people on your team who have different viewpoints and backgrounds. Politics, race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, class, and gender identity distinctions are all examples of diversity. 

Inclusion means that everyone in the varied group feels included, appreciated, respected, adequately treated, and a part of your culture. Building an inclusive organisation is empowering all employees and recognising their unique abilities. 

Workplace Diversity: There Are Several Types 

The four sorts of diversity dimensions you'll discover in any company are as follows: 

1. Internal Diversity 

Internal Diversities are the different distinct factors into which a person is born or belongs. It includes:

• Race
• Age
• Ethnicity
• National Origin
• Cultural Diversity

2. External Diversity 

External diversity refers to differences or features that they do not inherit. It includes: 

• Religion 
• Education
• Location
• Skills and Interests
• Relationship Status
• Socioeconomic situation 
• Experiences
• Citizenship

3. Organizational Diversity 

The various diversity factors that arise in any business or workplace are organisational diversities. It contains: 

• Work location
• Job function
• Department
• Management Status
• Seniority level

World View Diversity

World View Diversity particularly suggests the difference in people's world views. It includes:

• Knowledge of History
• Political Beliefs
• Cultural Events

Benefits of Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace

Some of the most significant benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace are:

1. Bigger talent pool

Expanding your recruiting searches with different backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, and so on enlarges the talent pool. It improves the chances of finding the ideal employee. According to a Glassdoor survey, 72 percent of women, 80 percent of Asians,89 percent of black respondents, and 70 percent of Latinos believe that workplace diversity is vital.

2. New perspectives and innovation

With a more diversified population, your organisation has a much better chance of coming up with new ideas. As the Harvard Business Review shows, there is a statistically significant link between diversity and innovation results. Furthermore, as assessed by their revenue mix, the most varied businesses—in terms of migration, career path, industry, age, education, and gender — were also the most inventive.

3. More robust business results and profits

According to Harvard Business Review, more diversified businesses generate 19 percent more income. In addition, according to a McKinsey analysis, every 10% increase in the racial and ethnic diversity of a company's senior-executive team results in a 0.8 percent rise in earnings.

Challenges of Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace 

When a firm conflates diversity with inclusion, it exposes itself to many risks and negative repercussions.

• Your company's psychological safety will be jeopardised if you don't take an all-inclusive approach.
• Employees will not feel free to fully participate in the decision-making process if inclusion is compromised, and business performance will suffer as a result.
• Let's say you hire a diverse crew but fail to make them feel welcome. A sense of estrangement will develop, as will unfavourable attitudes toward the company. 

Ways to Improve Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace 

1. Focus on Recruiting Diversely

While recruiting for your organisation, it is critical to intentionally reach out to underrepresented populations. 

2. Instead of Culture Fit, Culture Add 

Employers and employees can overcome their own inadvertent and unconscious biases to make decisions using the Culture Add attitude.

3. Training on Diversity and Inclusion 

In this activity, employers and employees will learn how to work with people from various religious, geographical, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Companies are beginning to place a greater emphasis on diversity, but many overlook the importance of inclusion. As a result, employees will feel out of place and unsupported if you don't make a concerted effort to promote inclusiveness and diversity.