The Top Components of D&I Programs
Following a tumultuous time of advocating for racial and social justice, businesses are ready to step up their game. They’re dedicating resources to diversity and inclusion, and want to ensure their company culture is empowering and supporting employees…instead of detracting from their lives.
Unfortunately, the buzzwords diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” can seem to overlap and lose distinction. Does your organization implement these 5 key types of diversity training in the workplace? Are they clearly and intentionally receiving training in these key facets of diversity in your workplace?
Every organization must touch on these 5 topics for effective diversity training in the workplace. In this article, we’ll explore the core components of diversity and inclusion training, and how you can utilize them at your company.
Equity is the guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and investment for all. When you strive to make everything equitable, you aim to identify and eliminate the barriers that have prevented the full participation of all groups, while acknowledging the historically underserved and underrepresented.
Inclusion seeks to bring traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities and decision-making in a way that shares power and equal access to opportunities and resources.
By training your staff on these ideas, you can enhance communication between them, and create expectations for inclusive behavior from everyone in your organization.
Another type of diversity training in the workplace is unconscious bias. Also known as implicit bias, this is a pre-reflective attribution based on social stereotypes. Many people aren’t aware they have biases, and use them unconsciously to make snap judgments about other people. Unconscious bias can create great harm, especially in the workplace. To help eliminate them, the key is managing unconscious bias training. This helps people recognize their biases and avoid them.
Other types of diversity training in the workplace include microaggressions. These are subtle slights, snubs and insults. They can convey hostile, derogatory or negative messages about another person’s race, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. They often come from unconscious bias. And while they aren’t always intentional, they’re hurtful nonetheless. Microaggressions training provides the skills to avoid these biases, and to respond effectively when on the receiving end.
Creating a workplace culture that’s informed by diversity, equity, and inclusion may seem intimidating. But building an inclusive environment allows diverse employees to interact more comfortably, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexuality, religion, etc. As an organization, your goal should always be to enhance collaboration and remove barriers to inclusive teamwork.
5. Religious Sensitivity Training
Our is a diverse world, with dozens of differents faiths. It’s said it’s polite to avoid discuss politics or religion. Thus, spirituality is be an area where employees might avoid discussing their beliefs and needs. So it’s essential to provide training on this sensitive and important topic.
Final thoughts
You now have the tools to foster a highly successful diversity training program! These five types of diversity training in the workplace are critical to any DEI program. You’ve got this!