How can I improve and promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in my workplace?

Posted 3 years ago

Treating people fairly and respectfully is a social and ethical responsibility, and it’s largely a legal one too.

There are a number of ways employers can improve and promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in their workplace.

To start, every organisation should have its own Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy. It will cover the Equality Act’s protected characteristics and how to support employees who have these characteristics. By implementing this policy – and others such as Anti-Bullying & Harassment, and Mental Health & Wellbeing – you’re showing your employees that you have a strong commitment to ensuring that your workplace is working towards compliance with the Equality Act. These policies need to be easily accessible to everyone at all times. It’s crucial to live and work to the standards set out in these policies, so your staff feel protected and equal to one another in terms of how they are treated and the workplace opportunities they’re given.

In light of this, speaking with your team is one of the simplest and most successful ways of addressing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at work. By creating a safe space and having an open and respectful discussion, you’ll learn how your employees feel about your organisation’s approach to EDI. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to ask your team for suggestions on how your workplace can become more inclusive. In turn, when the team witnesses their suggestions coming to life, they’ll know that you take their views and wellbeing seriously.

And as an employer, it’s crucial to help your staff gain the skills they need to identify and challenge inequality. Effective and well-communicated strategies should be in place and regular training on this topic is key – as well as simple and cost-effective.

Here at iHasco, we offer an online Equality, Diversity & Inclusion training course, that enables learners to identify the prohibited conduct and behaviour that’s unlawful under The Equality Act 2010, including discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. Our course also explains how to reduce and prevent these behaviours, and it offers practical guidance on how to accommodate everyone’s unique needs, alongside treating people with dignity, fairness and respect.

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