How to be inclusive at work
By Fay Capstick
Work is a place we all spend a significant amount of time. It is very important that our work cultures are inclusive for everyone as no one wants to feel left out or unwelcome to be themselves. This week we shall be looking at ways to be more inclusive in the workplace.
What is inclusivity?
Inclusivity means providing access to opportunities and resources that is truly equal. This applies to everyone, including those that might otherwise have been excluded, such as those from minority groups, the disabled (physically or mentally), or LGBTQ+ individuals.
Inclusivity in the workplace means that everyone needs to feel that they are welcome and valued for their individual worth and the contribution that they can make. It is about making everyone feel comfortable to be themselves. The result of this is a productive and confident workforce in a safe and happy workplace.
What you can do
Ask your staff: Do your staff feel included and their needs are being met? You aren’t expected to mind read, so it’s important to ask them. This can be done through anonymous feedback at regular intervals. Or better yet, have a culture where everyone feels empowered to air their views to their managers.
However listening to your staff isn’t enough, you need to act on what they are telling you and be ready to hear things that you might not want to. Further, even if staff aren’t reporting any problems, you should be pushing forward changes that staff might not have even been aware needed to happen.
Top down: everyone should be demonstrating positive inclusivity practices in the workplace. Your team needs to see that this is a priority in your business and that it applies equally to all levels of staff from the top down.
Recruitment: It is important that your recruitment methods are as inclusive as possible. It sounds obvious, but without positive steps to hire inclusively, you simply won’t have an inclusive workforce!
Plan your meetings: It is too easy for extroverted and confident employees to take over and monopolise time in meetings. Make sure agendas are sent out ahead giving everyone time to prepare and make sure you find a way to include the important insights of introverted or socially anxious employees in a way that makes them feel comfortable. An example is letting them turn their camera off during video meetings.
Pronouns: Ask your employees which pronoun they prefer and then make sure that you use it. Suggest that all staff consider putting their pronouns in their email signatures.
A shared calendar: A shared calendar can help to highlight when others may have important events in their lives, such as religious observances. This will make sure that everyone feels like they are being recognised.
Inclusivity statement: Make sure your business has an inclusivity statement and that you follow it. Have it displayed clearly on your website where it will be visible to all, including potential employees.
Why is inclusivity important?
Businesses that focus on having an inclusive work place end up with a wider diversity of talent in their staff.
An inclusive workforce will be more likely to provide a wider base of experience and ideas that the business can benefit from. Diverse teams produce better decisions, a study has found (https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1742040/diversity-drives-better-decisions), so there are incentives to doing the right thing.
A happy inclusive workforce is one that is likely to produce the best results for the business.
Inclusivity is a continuous task and you should be constantly assessing whether you are doing all you can to meet your employee’s needs.
Conclusions
No one likes to feel different or unwanted or unappreciated and how we treat people at work can have a huge impact. Inclusion is very important. It will have an impact both in the workplace and outside it, helping to contribute to a population that has the best mental health and wellbeing possible.
Final thoughts
At Parker Shaw we have been at the forefront of the sector we serve, IT & Digital Recruitment and Consulting, for over 30 years. We can advise you on all your hiring needs. If you are looking for your next job in the IT sector please check our Jobs Board for our current live vacancies at https://parkershaw.co.uk/jobs-board.