What is Workplace Diversity? Definition, Benefits, Challenges

What is Workplace Diversity?

Maintaining a workplace composed of people from varying characteristics such as background, age, race, abilities, gender and orientation is referred to as workplace diversity. Workplace diversity is crucial to maintaining a strong employer brand.

When was the last time somebody convinced you about the importance of workplace diversity and inclusion? With stats like ‘Diverse companies are 36% more profitable’ and ‘Diverse management teams bring in 19% additional revenue’, there is good reason for workplaces to focus on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives and bring in such positive change. In this blog, we will look at what workplace diversity is, what its benefits are and how to achieve and improve it over time.

What are the Key Benefits of a Diverse Workplace?

Though not limited to the following, here are some key benefits of a diverse workplace, and why your company should be one too.

1. Makes teams more creative and innovative
2. Improves decision-making by removing bias
3. Improves relationships within the team
4. Increases the productivity of teams
5. Ensures career progression and satisfaction for employees
6. Improves employee engagement and motivation levels go up

What Is the Difference Between Diversity and Inclusion?

Diversity is about the overall composition of a workforce and how many people from different backgrounds are a part of it. The key question that is asked to ensure diversity in the workplace is ‘what?’. In other words, what can be done to ensure that a workplace is more diverse? What is a way to measure this diversity?

Inclusion is about the support and the impetus you give to bring all these different people and systems together. The key question that is asked in workplace inclusion is ‘how?’ In other words, how can we make sure that the workplace is well integrated and that everyone feels a sense of belonging? Are these steps improving employee engagement and motivation levels?

What are the Challenges to Workplace Diversity?

Unconscious bias

When people carry unconscious bias within, it becomes an enemy to recognizing diversity and inclusion at the workplace. Such unconscious bias over time builds an environment which becomes less and less conducive for diverse crowds, drawing only the same kind of people to join the company.

Lack of effective leadership

A lack of effective leadership is another major obstacle to building a diverse workplace and culture in your company. If the leaders do not take the right initiatives, diversity will never be built, whether it is through diversity recruitment, building employee resource groups, or championing diverse leaders themselves.

Lack of Knowledge in Diversity and its Management

This is another crucial barrier to diversity. When you have no knowledge of diversity or how to manage it and even if you do, if you lack a clear vision, then how can you ensure your workplace is or becomes more diverse?

How to Improve Workplace Diversity?

Workplace diversity cannot be improved overnight. It takes planning, effort and the right kind of leadership to eliminate the barriers in sight and build a diverse workplace. Now let us look at the things that a business can do to become more diverse, of course with the cooperation of the management and guided by a great leader.

What are the 5 Ways to Improve Workplace Diversity?

1. Diversity training

People have a willingness to do good and be good. Eliminate unconscious bias at the workplace and encourage collaboration through diversity training.

2. Diverse teams

Build diverse teams through the recruitment process itself. Make sure your teams stay diverse by providing support to diverse employees and their concerns.

3. Celebrate diversity

Have annual and semi-annual events at the workplace that celebrate its diversity. Award leaders and others who have made contributions to fostering diversity.

4. Policies and procedures

Establish policies that promote diversity in the company. Make sure every employee is aware of these policies and the HR team helps create awareness.

5. Hire a diversity manager

Hire a diversity manager to work for you, or better still hire an entire diversity team to further diversity in your company.

Are You Looking for a Diversity Hiring Partner?

A diversity hiring partner is half the battle won in your race to achieving diversity at the workplace. This is because true diversity begins with great leadership and a commitment to infuse the seeds of diversity and inclusion right from the start of an employee’s journey. Alp Consulting, a recruitment and staffing partner with over 25 years of experience, is your champion for diversity and inclusion in your company. Talk to us, to plant the seeds of diversity and ensure your employees are happy, motivated and creative.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the workplace inclusion framework?

Each organization has its own workplace inclusion framework, and this is largely defined by the company’s culture itself. Most large companies have a DEI framework that they rely on. There are also theoretical models that help implement diversity and inclusion at the workplace.

How to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

To promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace, you can have group activities that bring people together. You can also conduct DEI training in the workplace, which will help remove any unconscious bias from the minds of people and make them more considerate and empathetic.

How to manage diversity in the workplace?

Some of the things you can do to manage diversity in the workplace is to include diversity in your recruitment practices, especially executive search, establish employee resource groups where employees can interact with each other and explain their problems to each other.