Mandatories for today’s inclusive workplace
Credit to Author: Staff Writer| Date: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 14:54:30 +0000
Inclusivity is the fact or policy of not excluding members or participants on the grounds of gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, etc. Creating a more inclusive workplace is not just about ensuring your office includes diverse hires. While it is absolutely essential for all workplaces to reflect Canada’s evolving population, our view is that creating an inclusive workplace is about creating an environment that enables all employees to succeed equally on a level playing field despite their background or individual life stage.
These are a few factors to consider:
Physical work environment
Most employees value flexibility but have different preferences when it comes to a desirable work environment and life stage has a lot to do with this. An experienced employee who lives just outside the city may value an almost exclusively remote role while an employee with a young family may need to get out of the house to be able to focus, and an intern may be excited to spend time in the office with everyone on the team to learn as much as possible during their short contract period. An inclusive workplace is one that takes all of this into account and is created to cater to individuals’ unique needs and what enables them to perform at their best. Creating this is not always easy but it’s extremely important to communicate that creating an environment where everyone can succeed is the goal while welcoming feedback from your team every step of the way.
Mental health resources
The world is perhaps more challenging than ever as globally we experience a volatile economy, aging parents, global health concerns and many newcomers working to establish themselves in Canada, often without the strong family support system they are accustomed to. Part of creating an inclusive workforce is making mental health support and resources available and making sure it’s known at all levels of the organization. This can range from individual benefits for therapy but also extend to full team training tied to project management, stress management, leadership and managing up. Nothing feels more inclusive than knowing your employer values you as a person first and skilled worker second and that they are putting in the effort required to help you perform at your best.
Making time for team and culture
In a fast-paced world, what’s most valuable from a team and culture perspective continues to vary. A monthly all team lunch, or offsite event might no longer make sense if the team is spending less time in the office, but at the same time it doesn’t mean culture is any less important. There are many less conventional ways to keep team and culture a key business priority and doing so is part of what helps to create a truly inclusive workplace. Consider asking the team to vote for a cause they care about and rally everyone together to accomplish a related goal, consider launching a semi-formal book club where you purchase and encourage the senior team to read a cutting edge leadership book once a quarter and get together to share findings and how they can be applied to your business. Encouraging team members to pursue passions in small groups can also be effective whether it’s an open membership to a local athletics club or season’s tickets to see a local sports team.
It’s important to think about what inclusivity means in the workplace at a deeper level. Addressing team diversity is one small part of the equation. True inclusivity is creating an environment that enables every person to be their true self and bring their best to the workplace each day. This is work that never ends.
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