Equality and diversity within the workplace increases employee satisfaction and creates a culture of inclusion. You can do this within a workplace by creating a clear message that everyone can follow.

How is equality, diversity and inclusion defined?

Equality – Ensuring that everyone is provided with equal opportunities and that people are not discriminated against.

Diversity – Recognising and respecting people's differences.

Inclusion – An individual's experience within the workplace and to the extent in which they feel valued/included. Providing equal opportunities and embracing all individuals.

How to promote equality and diversity?

To be able to ensure that your workplace is inclusive you should offer all staff appropriate equality and diversity training, that provides context across a range of issues and topics, including ways to deal with them. Topics could include Indirect discrimination and unconscious bias. You can take this step by purchasing Halo Staffing's training for only £4.99 a course HERE

Assessing your workplace to make it more inclusive is one of the most important things you can do. A way to do this is to provide training. This training should highlight any adjustments that need to be made for workers, this could include providing any equipment that might be needed. So that all employees can work to their best possible standards – change this –

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination within the workplace and respects staff and colleagues, this act covers protected characteristics which are:

• Age
• Gender
• Gender Reassignment
• Disability
• Marriage and Civil Partnership
• Pregnancy and Maternity
• Race
• Religion or Belief
• Sexual Orientation

What does discrimination impact in someone's life?

• An Individual's wellbeing
• Affects employment opportunities
• Work performance
• Wanting to stay in jobs
• Avoiding certain places
• Missing out on opportunities

To help towards the improvement of equality and diversity within the workplace you will have to take steps towards raising awareness, so that everyone gets the most out of their work experience and are able to work without any added stress and ignorance from others.

By being aware of the above you will be able to create a clear message for everyone within your workplace that changes current policies to accommodate the needs of others, give employees ways to deal with sensitive topics, improve workplace culture and provide ways to deal with workplace conflict.

What is unconscious bias and how to address and prevent it?

Unconscious (or implicit) bias is triggered by our brains which leads to quick thinking and judgments. This is influenced by our personal experiences, societal stereotypes and the way we were raised (our backgrounds)

Unconscious bias is mainly triggered by, although not limited to what we are preserving. It can also be triggered by names, places, height etc.

Everyone has unconscious bias no matter how progress someone may believe themselves to be. Unconscious bias creates an environment of exclusion. Why is why it's incredibly important that as a recruiter you are aware of your own unconscious biases and how to prevent/stop them.

In order to tackle unconscious bias, you must first address your own. Recognising your own unconscious bias helps towards eliminating these. Ensure that all decisions you make are carefully thought through and they are not based on your own assumptions of individuals.

Be open to conversations about unconscious bias and make sure that all of your employees are actively acknowledging their biases and working towards stopping them. There's always more to be educated on.

Types of unconscious bias in the workplace:

Affinity Bias – Feeling a connection to those similar to us

Perception Bias – Stereotypes and assumptions about different groups

Confirmation Bias – Looking to confirm our own opinions and pre-existing ideas

Conformity Bias – Taking cues from others to voice an opinion, rather than use own judgement

Name Bias – Judging someone by their name without knowing them

Halo Effect – Projecting positive qualities onto individuals without actually knowing them

Horns Effect – When one bad event clouds your opinion of an individual

Creating a clear message for everyone to follow

To successfully create a clear message that everyone within the workplace can follow, you will have to set make sure that employees must are following the standards that you have set. This message will help you to lead with equality and diversity at the forefront, making sure that all employees are being respectful and inclusive.

Tackling unconscious bias within the workplace leads to:

• Fair decision making
• Improves employee engagement
• Increases productivity
• Attracts diverse clients and employees

Language, visual communication, and actions should NOT include discriminatory behaviour and if seen then the appropriate actions should be taken.

If you're looking for more advice on creating an inclusive workplace contact us today!

Phone: 0800 368 9644

Email: [email protected]