Shaping a fairer society, by design

DEI stands for ‘Diversity, Equity & Inclusion’. In a professional context, DEI efforts are designed to put in place standards and policies that make every employee feel welcomed, accepted, and supported in the workplace, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socio-economic background, physical ability and neurodiversity, or any other characteristic or identity. Increasingly companies are being called upon to define clear DEI initiatives, DEI strategy, and DEI policies within their workplaces.  

Diversity is the variety of representation within any setting. This could refer to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social-economic background, views, experiences, skillsets, age, physical ability and neurodiversity, or any number of other characteristics a person may identify with.

Equity is about enabling each individual access to equal outcomes and the same chances to succeed. It’s slightly different from equality as, where equality is about equal treatment for everyone, equity takes into account each individual’s unique situation and seeks to accommodate their specific needs. 

Inclusion is the action of fostering a sense of belonging, allowing each individual to feel that they are a valued and supported part of the group. It is also about creating an open environment which permits everyone to be their authentic selves, showing up as the most complete version of themselves, whether they’re at work or in their personal lives. Inclusion is slightly different to inclusiveness (the state of being inclusive) and inclusivity (the practice of being inclusive).

Ensuring diversity in every area of society is central to building healthier, happier, and more productive communities. Creating diverse spaces can result in allowing communities to see themselves as more unified, to celebrate differences, to learn new ways of living and co-existing, and to grow, individually and collectively. 

A diverse work environment is important for lots of reasons. From ensuring a broad range of views, new perspectives, and varied experiences within your organization to attracting a greater talent pool of employees and better representing the communities we live in, a workplace that’s more diverse is likely to be a workplace that’s better able to recruit and retain top talent, and reach their target audiences. Pursuing DEI initiatives is beneficial for employers and employees alike, and being able to demonstrate clear examples of DEI in action is helpful for organizations when it comes to showing their own values.

Many studies show that team diversity leads to increased creativity, stronger ideas, greater productivity, heightened cultural awareness, and a more resilient business.