7 ways to help create a more inclusive workplace
It can sometimes be hard to think of how we, as individuals, can make a real impact on an organisation’s culture and work environment. This is why Inclusive Employers have detailed some daily actions that individuals can do to celebrate and promote inclusion at work.
Be open to sharing aspects of your experiences and values with your colleagues
While it may seem daunting to share aspects of your experiences and values with your colleagues, starting open conversations about what makes us who we are can pave the way for more inclusive work environments. Sharing your identity at work can also help show support for those around us, particularly those from marginalised groups.
Reach out and connect with new people in your organisation
With many companies offering hybrid or flexible working arrangements, it’s now not the norm for colleagues to see each other face-to-face every day. Reaching out and connecting with colleagues across different teams, departments, offices, and even countries can reduce feelings of isolation and exclusion for individuals within organisations.
Thank colleagues who actively contribute to inclusion activities
Acknowledge and empower those around you who play a part in creating an inclusive workplace. From big actions, like running inclusion networks and initiatives, to smaller everyday acts of kindness, championing colleagues who are creating inclusive environments will ensure they feel valued and appreciated for their great work.
Enrich and expand your network in the workplace and beyond
The power of having a diverse network of friends and connections at work should not be underestimated. By reaching out and connecting with different types of people at work, either virtually or face-to-face, you’ll benefit from more diverse perspectives, and you’ll achieve a greater understanding of other people’s lived experiences.
Acknowledge gaps in your knowledge, ask questions, and make time for your own learning
We all have a responsibility to learn more about the struggles that others face and the role we can play in creating inclusive cultures, both inside and outside of the workplace. It shouldn’t be the sole responsibility of those with lived experiences of exclusion or prejudice to educate others, raise awareness, or take action – we all need to take ownership of our own learning.Be an active inclusion ally by developing your knowledge and listening to those around you
It’s possible to be an inclusion ally, no matter what position you hold in your organisation. Through acknowledging gaps in your own knowledge, you’ll learn more about the oppressions that others face and become a better ally. You can help to create a safer space for everyone in the workplace through allyship.
Commit to investing your time in at least one programme designed to promote inclusivity
To achieve meaningful change and make lasting improvements to workplace inclusivity, long-term action and commitments need to be made. National Inclusion Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the unique challenges impacting your organisation and consider what actions you can take to overcome these in the future.
We can all take small, simple actions during National Inclusion Week – and beyond – to make our workplaces more open and inclusive. We believe that a workplace culture built on trust, respect, equity, and inclusivity enables us all to live by our values and achieve our ambitions at work.