This is the first and foremost important activity to promote and maintain diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Discussions on various topics appreciating diversity in the workplace encourage participants to ask questions and share feedback which can inspire others to speak up for their own rights. The uphill battle to create this workplace utopia may seem daunting, but the seeds are sewn … Knowledge of multicultural holidays and celebrations can provide a great break for awareness. Diversity, equity, and inclusion go hand-in-hand, and to experience real organizational change, companies must build a truly inclusive work culture. It goes without saying that, to cope with the ever-increasing competitive edge, it is inevitable to retain the diverse talents. But just creating a diverse population doesn’t make a company inclusive. Make sure that your employees are actually working together in order to ensure that the proper lessons are being learned. Otherwise, it misses opportunities to improve employee engagement with the company’s goals in the long run. The rest of the team will call out things like place of birth, staple food, hair color, and even religion, which might signify that one person is different from the other. A diverse labor pool is vital to any organization. But it’s not impossible to remain fair and competitive with salaries. Rather than simply regurgitating the day’s headlines, HRMorning delivers actionable insights, helping HR execs understand what HR trends mean to their business. Without inclusion activities, diversity is meaningless. Accordingly, they can be offered the time off. Take a wide free space and ask the group members to stand in a line. Similarly, when they have a similarity, they can step back together. Here are 5 Diversity and Inclusion Activities for managers to build stronger teams: 1. Here are eight strategies and practices that can build or improve diversity and inclusion in a work-from-home plan. Let two team members be on the spotlight, facing one another. 2021 All rights reserved. Here are 7 types of diversity modern workplaces must focus on. When it comes to supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, don’t play favorites, practice basic courtesy, and pay special attention to how you can embrace non-discriminatory practices and policies. A work from home model creates opportunities to hire, include and collaborate with a more diverse group of people and a higher level of talent – people who might not have been able to work under traditional structures. Sharing such statements about themselves can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it can clear a lot of misbelieves. The Diversity Thumball is a fun training tool that tackles a difficult topic with smarts and sensitivity.Thumball™ is a soft 6″ stuffed vinyl ball that looks like a cool soccer ball and has 32 panels pre-printed with questions suited for adults and teens. HRMorning, part of the SuccessFuel Network, provides the latest HR and employment law news for HR professionals in the trenches of small-to-medium-sized businesses. Simply put, they ask frontline employees if the company practices and executes what it preaches on diversity and inclusion. Seventy-five percent of employees are on the autism spectrum. So why not make WFH the new inclusive and diverse reality? Here’s how to start: The object lesson of this activity is that even if two people are quite different from each other, there are still many grounds which can bring them back together. For example, “Let me jump in here. If you rely on public transport, take a step forward. The longer you wait to build a diverse workforce and inclusive culture, the harder it will be in the future. Yes, it will require a shift of mindset. Let your employees create art together. I’ve focused my career on building initiatives and resources for minority groups within large companies. Moving beyond a checklist in the hiring process, human resources or people ops leaders are advocating for environments that are welcoming and accommodating for all, including those with disabilities. Be it redesigning the office walls or each other desks, art can help initiate societal conversations. Keeping track of only the standard holidays can disturb the sense of belonging for many others. If you know any such activity that can create the diversity and inclusion spark in the workplace, feel free to share in the comment section. Plus, they check for pay disparities to avoid unintentional issues that might not show up when you just compare numbers and don’t look at things such as talent, contribution and diversity. Offer help in those areas, too. The display of such personal mementos in the professional space can speak volumes about the different different aspects of employee experiences. But, it is surely more than that because food is one of the best conversation starters. Each participant should take a piece of paper and make two columns with headers “I am…” and “I am not… “ with the word “But” in between. Facebook created “D&I Wiki” groups with links to resources such as training programs, webinars, events, social groups and support groups. In home office senior leadership roles, 9% are people of color and 30% are women. As others see the previous posts, they look for self connections and add to the link. Best practices for diversity in hiring: When companies remove geographical limits – and the obligation to work at a physical site – you open job opportunities to a diverse group of qualified candidates who didn’t consider applying until they could work from home. Then leaders publicly address those to hopefully stay ahead of inclusion issues. Today, 8% of our financial advisors are people of color and 21% are women. It can prove to be a great get-together and help know each other personally. So, companies can more easily hire people with different identities related to gender, race, age, sexual orientation and ethnicity. - Andres Tapia. However, physical characteristics should be ignored. It should have a round center and an equal number of petals to the number of participants in their group. This makes me wonder if we are all truly listening to each other or having difficulty hearing everyone when we are on a large video call. While diverse groups typically breed a sense of camaraderie, this isn’t always the case. Although they are more active these days, yet the rate of employment is less and they continue to suffer due to the unconscious biases (like bias training) that prevail in workplaces. Remember to conduct these activities in an atmosphere of trust and safety and leave enough time for discussion and application at the end of each activity. Sending staff home to work, in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19, risks reinforcing existing exclusive behavior and biases and undermining inclusive workplace cultures. And they’re wise to do it. While it’s imperative that D&I efforts are supported by the CEO and actively engages leaders, one cannot discount the impact of employee involvement. This means extending initiatives beyond the hiring process and providing equal opportunity and treatment throughout every touchpoint of the employee experience. The goal of this activity is to dispel stereotypes and involve everyone in getting to know each other. Organize a fun potluck lunch party where employees should bring in dishes from or inspired by their culture and heritage. We will work for real change and progress in diverse recruitment, hiring and advancement.” HPE. For example: Employees with different backgrounds can brief what religious days or holidays are important to them and in what ways. The center of the flower should be filled with their ‘common’ something. 1. Elizabeth just stated the same idea, Dave. Focusing on inclusion helps build a sense of belonging. This prevents any interruption of content access. Allow employees to practice their religion in the workplace. Diversity and inclusion: 8 best practices for changing your culture A strong diversity and inclusion strategy can help your organization attract top talent and drive innovative results. Related Article: 25 Powerful Diversity And Inclusion Quotes for a Stronger Company Culture. Finally, let them sit in a circle and facilitate a discussion about how they are feeling. Many religions practice prayer multiple times a day, and this is a great way to make them feel included. Here’s how to proceed -. Make sure you recognize and label the behavior, rectify the situation and then allow the business to proceed. For Ultranauts, diversity is so prevalent, it’s practically the norm. Many companies quickly shifted operations to work from home (WFH) when the pandemic hit. Working from home may feel singular, but it can be a catapult for any company’s diversity and inclusion efforts. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. These engaging and insightful activities can be an effective way to start the conversation on diversity and inclusion within your work environment. At Denny’s, leaders preach and practice the diverse and inclusive message. Explain to the group that we all have some privileges which others do not, in a subtle way. It focuses on creating an environment where diverse employees are accepted and appreciated. Try an Inclusion Icebreaker! These common areas for office people can be made available for small events and representations of different art and culture. Please enter your username or email address. For instance, Goodway Group has weekly “life hack” calls with employees who want to tap into ideas on how to do their jobs and balance their home and family demands better. Team managers can arrange monthly seatings to … There are countless ways you can improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and below are over 50 ideas to help Most also likely enjoy having some fun and/or relieving stress from work. It is strongly encouraged that the facilitator of the activities below has a background or expertise in facilitating exercises that may be culturally sensitive. Insightful articles, best practices and trends in HR innovation, A free resource center with practical guides on HR management, Listen to thought leaders on best HR practices and trends, Diversity is a mixture. They thrive in a work from home environment, but CEO Rajesh Anandan says he still focuses on diversity because most employees have unique learning styles and communication preferences. We believe in the power of community and we believe you can still build that while working virtually and at home. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com, We safeguard your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy. © Vantage Circle. This activity shows the differences and similarities. The four-lettered word ‘Guys’ can make many of the female team members feel excluded from a conversation, and unhappy about it. If you have come from single parent background, take a step back. Not only is inclusivity crucial for diversity efforts to succeed, but creating an inclusive culture will prove beneficial for … The acts of diversity can gain everybody in a workplace. Here Are 15 Activities Of Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace. Office happy hours can be a perfect opportunity for networking. The people you use in your images should represent diverse backgrounds to further support inclusion. They make sure they’re aligned with the market rate for each remote employee’s area and role, explained Corean Canty, COO. Such opportunities can generate interesting and open conversations which are true diversity and inclusion efforts. There are over one billion disabled people, globally. Working from home may feel singular, but it can be a catapult for any company’s diversity and inclusion efforts. It should be described in a way that shows what makes them unique and posted on the online employee community platform of your company. Diversity Thumball. Inclusion is making the mix work. This permission statement is limited to reproduction of materials for educational or training events. This helps the co-workers to see the perspective of others and embrace it, which finally leads to mutual respect and dignity at workplace. For example, it will create a phrase like, ‘I am Iranian but I am not a terrorist.’. Thanks, Elizabeth, f… Sign up for a free HRMorning membership and get our newsletter! You can arrange for a ‘Diversity week’ where they can paint their vision on equality in the workplace. Here’s a roundup of the best activities that celebrate employee differences. The gap might be wider but there will always be something which binds them together. Gallup researchers found inclusion efforts are successful when leaders: For ideas on how to increase inclusiveness, here’s how trailblazing organizations do it: At Achievers, CEO Jeff Cates and his management team gave employees the space and voice to create Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that fit their needs and concerns. People are searching for new ways to connect with their communities while being physically distant. Eroding inclusion. Reproduced from 50 Activities for Diversity Training, by Jonamay Lambert and Selma Myers. Fortunately, most WFH plans will naturally broaden any organization’s geographical reach – and eliminate a location bias. Encourage your colleagues to get involved and find appropriate ways celebrate different traditions. This article is written by Susmita Sarma, a digital marketer at Vantage Circle. Suite 1A Level 2, 802-808 Pacific Highway, 25 Powerful Diversity And Inclusion Quotes for a Stronger Company Culture. Providing a PTO day for voting is another way to encourage diversity in the workplace. Undoubtedly, it goes beyond the employees’ skin color, hair, looks, religion and ethnicity. With an extended hiring reach, and diverse group of employees, companies can promote inclusion by giving employees a voice, safety and community. So, one of the best activities for promoting diversity and inclusion in your own workplace may be to assign diverse groups of people to the same team and have them actually work toward a common goal. And they found the wheels still turned, perhaps even faster, more efficiently and with higher quality. With growing perspectives, companies ultimately make better decisions and achieve better outcomes. Diversity and inclusion activities should exist in the life-blood of every company, and it’s up to that company’s own strategy how it leads to earning a competitive advantage. Remote companies aren't limited by location which, of course, logistically grants access to talent all over the world. If your organization is feeling up to it, you can use this time to take our free, online Equity Audit which measures how diversity, equity, and inclusion shows up … Often, this means teams have a higher chance to be made up of people with various backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences. Experts suggest using a compensation strategy that includes calibration tools that remove bias, and ensure equal and fair pay based on things such as national averages, tenure and cost of living. All the members should be encouraged to make the best of their creativity and ideas. Employee experience: Its definition, importance, and advantages. All the groups should get a large art paper and some colorful markers. We can all better support our colleagues and the companies we work for to have a real impact on diversity and inclusion within our teams. Diversity and inclusion efforts have taken center stage in many organizations. At the 100%-remote-based company, “neurodiversity” is almost across the board. Remember that employees are not just working from home, but trying to get work done at home during a time of crisis. Many companies and their employee resource groups are putting best efforts in their diversity and inclusion activities to build a happier workplace with the best financial performers. This increases a lot of awareness against using the gendered words in the workplace and also helps in raising some money for a cause. It refers to the manpower which includes individuals with a wide range of characteristics. “It’s a way to feel connected outside of the work they share and give a voice to a specific group,” Cates says. You can make better use of the office cafeteria or lounge area. She was involved with media relations before shifting her interest in research and creative writing. Many companies quickly shifted operations to work from home (WFH) when the pandemic hit. Books on LGBT inclusion which lessens bias against this population is a great example here. Simply because they can hire people living all anywhere in the world. How? and you may cancel at any time during your free trial. Yes, it will take some practice. Keep in mind, there’s more to a successful diversity and inclusion training program than the specific activities you use. Depending on the differences and disadvantages, you can have a great conversation and hope to be truly inclusive. For example: One employee writes, “ India is my national origin.”, the next person who can relate to it adds, “I once visited India when I was a kid.” and so on… This activity gives coworkers an opportunity to start a conversation on various topics and compare how they are the same or different. Activities for increasing interpersonal understanding and inclusion A key outcome of an inclusive workforce is a place where any employee can do their best work. HPE’s commitment to global Inclusion & Diversity is a stand-out on its website. Diversity and inclusion activities can take many forms, but one of the easiest and most fun can be creating a culturally diverse holiday calendar. Once you recognize inappropriate behaviors, there is no excuse for allowing them to continue. Yes, there is a lot of work to be done, but the key is starting. This recreational activity needs 4-10 members in each group and it is one of the best ways to learn more about each other. Each group has to draw a large flower. While this may be difficult, when differences go ignored, businesses miss out on the benefits of diversity. For instance, most employees working from home are still likely concerned about managing their finances and work/life balance better. 15 Activities Of Diversity And Inclusion In The Workplace. That’s where the concept of inclusion comes in. Team managers can arrange monthly seatings to discuss and design the different diversity acts. Ethnically diverse companies are likely to perform 35% better than their counterparts, according to research from McKinsey. Photos can make for great conversation icebreakers. The activities/exercises listed were not created by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion staff. And if they don’t, leaders act to change it. Some of the groups lead by employees with a common interest include PRIDE and Women in Technology. What can be better than celebrating diversity with food? It goes like this: It is also referred to as the Hotjar Guys Challenge in order to induce a gender neutral language for improved diversity and inclusion in the workplace. And gender-diverse companies are likely to perform 15% better than their counterparts. Encouraging your employees to read the D&I books can be very effective and instrumental in learning more about their co-workers. Explore any of these five-minute exercises that center on a relevant diversity, inclusion and access topic. Visual storytelling, as it is named, generates awareness, leadership skills and fosters a sense of oneness among staff. How do you celebrate Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. After all the statements, ask the team members to look around and see where other people are in the room. This spreads historical and cultural knowledge among co-workers and increases interpersonal understanding with the fewest possible side effects. Also according to Harvard Business Review, companies with higher-than-average diversity had 19% higher revenues. To start down the road of real fun, office happy hours should have a plan and a purpose. Enter your username and password below to log in. It ensures fair treatment across the organization by making communications, products and the physical environment more usable by as many users as possible. Research indicates that knowledge about the experiences, upbringing, history and culture of another person can remove misconceptions towards that specific group. As an employer or manager, diversity and inclusion should be the top priorities in your talent management strategy. They offer “unconscious bias training,” and CEO John Miller says he regularly attends. We ask for your credit card to allow your subscription to continue should you decide to keep your membership beyond the free trial period. A board full of memories related to employees’ personal important life events can create the right spark of communication. In the inclusive culture, the way we address a group matters a lot. Regardless of differences, most employees have a few things in common – from concerns to desires. HRD Press, 1994. It aims in minimising the harmful consequences of accidental or unintentional errors for all. Building diversity and inclusion into a work-from-home model isn’t just about marrying two ideas because they’re trending and should be addressed. Do The Diversity Briefings. If your workplace is rich with diversity, why celebrate just Christmas? Instruct them to take one step forward or backward when a certain statement applies to them.A series of 25-30 statements can be read out. If you have ever faced sexual harassment at the workplace, take a step back.