How to Foster Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in a Virtual Workplace

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are a vital part of any workplace. And while everyone loves to say "We're an equal opportunity employer," that phrase doesn't add up to much if you don't put action behind it. A more diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment will bond your virtual team in more ways than you can imagine. Here is a guide for building and maintaining an inclusive workplace.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are a vital part of any workplace. And while everyone loves to say "We're an equal opportunity employer," that phrase doesn't add up to much if you don't put action behind it. A more diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment will bond your virtual team in more ways than you can imagine. Here is a guide for building and maintaining an inclusive workplace.

Exploring Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Before you can build diversity, equity and inclusion in your virtual workplace, you must understand what each of these terms means.

• Diversity. Diversity refers to the differences between each virtual team member and management. Diversity can come in the form of ethnicity, race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation and more.
• Equity. Equity is defined as the quality of being fair and impartial. In the virtual workplace, equity refers to an understanding that not everyone starts from the same place, so you work to address the unevenness.
• Inclusion. Inclusion refers to the constant efforts you make to ensure that everyone is participating in all aspects of the workplace. It is a continued action, one that does not end with the hiring process. It only just begins there.

Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matters

DEI impacts almost every aspect of the workplace. Here are some reasons why you should be building an inclusive workplace:

You Attract The Best

Diversity, equity and inclusion are important factors in keeping current employees and finding new workers. In fact, a recent Glassdoor report on DEI found that 76% of employees and job seekers considered a diverse workforce an important factor when evaluating companies and job offers. You want the best workers to stay and you want the best workers to get hired, right? DEI is a huge step toward making that happen.

You Increase Financial Viability

Studies have shown that a more diverse workplace is correlated with increased profits. In one report, companies with women occupying 10% or more board seats outperformed male-only companies.

You Get Creative Solutions

Diverse companies thrive because the workers offer a myriad of points of view. Instead of one way of looking at a problem, you have many.

How to Improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Consider the Environment

You must constantly evaluate your environment to make sure you have an inclusive workplace. Does everyone feel equally valued? What are the obstacles keeping everyone from having an equal say? An inclusive culture makes every worker feel that their culture, race, gender, etc. are valuable to the workplace.

Look at the Top

Everything starts at the top. If you want a diverse workplace, make sure your board, executives and management are diverse.

Conduct Training

One way to keep a diverse workplace is to take DEI workshops. It's important to constantly be thinking about DEI. An activity like Offsyte's Navigating Diverse Conversations is a good way to keep DEI top-of-mind.

Embrace Diverse Ideas

Different people think in different ways. Embrace that aspect of company culture. Make it something that is valued. When people feel like their voice is just as important as everyone else's, they'll be more likely to speak up.

Accept Uncomfortableness

When fostering DEI, there is a good chance you will make some mistakes. Everyone has unconscious biases. Doing the wrong thing can sometimes be a good thing. Listen to your workers when they critique you and the company. You might be uncomfortable at times, but that uneasiness is how you grow.

More to Know About Fostering Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in a Virtual Workplace

Some common questions people have about DEI in the virtual workplace.

What does diversity and inclusion mean in the workplace?

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace means that everyone — no matter who they are — feels equally valued and supported at work.

How can you promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace?

You can promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace by examining your own unconscious biases first. Once you know where you start from, you can begin to change your company.

How can I improve diversity, equity and inclusion virtually?

You can improve DEI virtually in much the same way you'd do it in person. There is no reason you can't foster DEI virtually.