National Inclusion Week
Celebrated National Inclusion Week between 27 Sep 2021 - 03 Oct 2021 by sharing short stories during their daily huddles to celebrate our authenticity to promote inclusion within the team.
In the simplest of terms, inclusion refers to a cultural and environmental feeling of belonging, while diversity focuses on the makeup of your workforce. Both inclusion and diversity go hand and in hand, and it brings together unique individuals from varying backgrounds and diversities to integrate and work together.
Inclusivity Checklist:
- Value differences, let's create and maintain an environment where people can feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
- Ensuring that everyoneβs voice is heard, opinions are considered and value to the team is evident.
- Provide workers with a safe space to voice their concerns.
- Ensuring that everyoneβs voice is accommodated, without any conditions or forced-choices. Keep in mind that more often a solution, although seemingly simple to some, will not suit everyone!
- Daily interactions are the most telling sign of whether your company has an inclusive culture.
- Respect others, despite their looks, the skill they bring in, what they eat, etc.
- Respect Strengths and Weaknesses
- Benchmark key aspects of your organizationβs culture, and understand the employee experience before making changes to promote inclusivity.
- Ensure inclusivity as a core competency for senior members and managers.
Organizations with inclusive cultures are:
- Two times more likely to exceed financial targets
- Three times more likely to be high-performing
- Six times more likely to be innovative and agile
- Eight times more likely to achieve business outcomes
Reasons why someone might feel comfortable:
- Personal PreferencesΒ
- Food (Vegetarian, Vegan, etc) π₯π₯π₯π₯ πππ
- Looks (Clothing, Style, etc) πππ₯»πππππππ©ππ πΏπ±πΎββοΈπ±ββοΈπ±π½ββοΈπ±π»ββοΈπ±π»ββοΈπ±πΎββοΈ
- Social Life ππ₯³π―ββοΈ
- Religious and Cultural beliefs
- Religious Practices \ Events (Xmas, Eid, Holi, Shiwarti, etc) βΈπβͺββ‘β‘β―β¦[β©πππ
- Other
- Proficiencies (Subject, Tech, etc)
- Language (Having an accent, etc)
Few examples from the references of why some may feel excluded or uncomfortable:
- The religious practices and restrictions on Saturdays or Sundays followed by some employees made them feel like they had to choose between βbeing part of the teamβ and their faith.
- Those who were differently abled or unable to swim well felt excluded from the relay race in the pool.
- Vegetarians would have to excuse themselves from the βtaste-testβ part of the barbecue competition.