According to Korn Ferry’s research, inclusion in the workplace leads to a sense of belonging and better decisions. A Salesforce report adds that employees perform better when they feel their opinions count. These two studies underline the importance of companies creating a workplace where employees feel respected, appreciated, and valued.

Sadly, most organizations don’t understand how to nurture inclusivity in the workplace. They assume that once they include a few neurodivergent and disabled persons, they have an inclusive workplace. While that is part of inclusivity, there is more to it. This article will guide you on how to create an inclusive workplace and also provide insights into how you can gain Instagram promotion to boost your social media presence.

What is Workplace Inclusivity?

Workplace inclusivity involves welcoming and supporting people with all kinds of differences. An inclusive workplace nurtures diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. Such workplaces also encourage their employees to ask for support and offer their managers the flexibility to allow them to do so.

Workplace inclusivity and diversity are interconnected but should not be used interchangeably. Diversity refers to an organization’s makeup and representation. On the other hand, inclusivity refers to the value given to people’s contributions, presence, and perspectives and whether these are integrated into the work environment.

What are the Benefits of Workplace Inclusivity?

There are several reasons why organizations should strive for an inclusive workplace. These are:

• It provides more flexibility. Workplace inclusivity ensures that all employees are held to the same standards. It means understanding how different people think and process information.
• Attract and retain top talents. Employees who feel well-included in the workplace are more likely to remain in the same organization longer.
• More productivity. An inclusive workplace provides employees with the resources to perform their roles, ensuring higher productivity.
• A more nurturing workplace. An inclusive workplace welcomes people with all kinds of differences and creates a conducive and nurturing environment.
• Stronger workplace connection. Workplace inclusivity makes employees more comfortable in expressing their opinions. Creating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace creates a sense of belonging among your employees.
• Improved brand image. Recently, job seekers, customers, and partners have been watching the values promoted at the workplace and how organizations treat their employees. An inclusive workplace helps improve a company’s image.

Tips To Help Build An Inclusive Workplace

If you are wondering how to add workplace inclusivity, here are tips:

Set diversity and inclusivity goals

If you are serious about inclusivity, you must set goals you want to achieve. These could include adding a certain number of minorities to your company or rewriting job descriptions using inclusive language. 

While collecting information is essential for monitoring progress, companies must commit to getting high-quality data. While not all goals can be tracked, regular employee surveys and ongoing feedback can help employees stay on track.

Make inclusivity part of your core values.

The company’s core values are the guiding principles that companies and their employees adhere to. If workplace inclusivity isn’t part of your core values, you must add it. For the best results, you should ask for employee suggestions and feedback. This is particularly important if your managers and HR professionals aren’t diverse.

Start from the top.

Your leaders should be in the first row of fostering an inclusive workplace. This will ensure that they turn your vision into a reality. The senior managers and HR staff should hire staff from diverse backgrounds, nationalities, skin colors, and genders. They help develop values, identify inclusivity priorities, and raise concerns with the executive staff.

If your managers don’t lead by example, it will be hard for junior staff to do so. First, begin by educating senior staff on the importance of inclusivity. Create a culture of leaders asking tough quesitons and receiving feedback before introducing an inclusive program. After onboarding leaders, it becomes easier for them to nurture an inclusive tone in the workplace.

Create a safe and inclusive environment.

While many companies have done well in creating gender-specific washrooms at the workplace, there are still areas for improvement. You can promote workplace inclusivity by having safe environments such as lactating rooms, prayer rooms for different religions, and quiet places for workers who may feel uncomfortable in open-plan offices.

Encourage employees to take time for prayers, meditation, and other personal needs. If there are company events, you can make them optional to honor introverts. To fully grasp the needs of all employees, have a channel through which they can share their needs and grievances. It could be through a suggestions box or their team leaders.

Promote the use of inclusive language.

The language used at the workplace is one factor that affects inclusivity. Certain words and phrases can clarify specific values and priorities. Therefore, one step to promote inclusivity in the workplace is to promote more inclusive language. 

For instance, when writing emails, normalize using pronouns in the signature. If offensive language is used at the workplace, take stern action against it. Prohibit clinches and acronyms that some people may struggle to understand. While it may be hard to get people to use positive language initially, they will get used to it with time.

Managers and other stop staff should lead the way in using inclusive language. They should use the proper pronouns for their staff. For instance, they can use a spouse or partner instead of a husband. When they use an offensive language, they should apologize.

Have wheelchair-accessible offices

Ensure all office areas, including the kitchen and washrooms, are wheelchair accessible. Go through all the common areas and ensure that they are ADA-compliant. You can even borrow a wheelchair to use during your survey. This will enable you to understand the pain points better.

In Conclusion

In an era when human rights are emphasized, and social media sites are blowing issues out of proportion, a lack of workplace inclusivity can harm your organization. As we have noted, inclusivity comes with many benefits. If you are wondering where to start with workplace inclusivity, the above tips will help you get started.

Guest writer.