POPULAR TOPICS – DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION
Essential Facts Addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
See how Syntrio’s diversity training course and programs create a respectful work environment by identifying sensitivities to social, racial, gender, and religious identity.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion issues and sensitivities have been evolving for decades.
The topics of DEI related to business and other organizations, by various names and in many forms, have been around for decades. This subject area has evolved with changing societal standards, legal and regulatory developments, and the workplace’s broadening understanding of the relationship of social issues at work and the value of such initiatives to business.
Syntrio offers diversity training courses and programs for leadership, managers, and employees that touch on various issues related to creating a respectful work environment. All employees can benefit from proactive diversity training programs and introspection from the benefits of valuing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion to prevent the negative impacts of bullying and threatening or abusive behaviors.
Get the Facts!
How does DEI apply to your professional “culture” and development?
Syntrio defines “culture” as a group or community with which a person shares everyday experiences shaping how they understand the world.
Now, try recalling how your beliefs and experiences may have shaped how you view your world. How has your culture impacted your career selection, ambition, and work ethic?
Culture can have a significant impact on how people interpret a variety of business interactions.
Essential Facts About Culture
The worldwide
population is
60% Asian
12% African
11% European
8% North American
5.3% South American
0.3% Australian
Here are only a few examples of the transformative demographic shifts occurring around us:
In 1950, 9 out of 10 Americans were white. Today, there are less than two white people to every one person of color.
Immigrants account for over half of all new U.S. workers.
minority
The nation’s population will be 54% minority by the year 2050.
Over 60 percent of the world’s population is bilingual.
In the United States alone, over 150 languages are regularly spoken.
When you hear the word “disability,” what words or phrases come to mind?
There are many different types of disabilities, including physical, mental, developmental, emotional, hearing, visual, and speech-related. Whether obvious or not, these challenges represent a tremendous source of strength if we learn how to leverage them for everyone’s advantage.
Essential Facts About Disabilities
According to recent United Nations research, one out of ten people lives with a disability. Other studies have found the ratio to be as high as one in four. Chances are, you have already worked with or served someone with a disability and may not have even known it.
According to studies that began in the 1950s at DuPont, employees with disabilities equal to or exceed co-workers without disabilities in job performance.
When surveyed, 62% of people with disabilities say they are likely to do business with companies that commit to diversity and equal treatment. So, we must know about the many challenges and opportunities that disabilities can bring — besides providing excellent products and services. This understanding helps shatter the myth that employees with disabilities cannot perform to the standards of those without a disability.
One out of ten people in the world is living with a disability.
Other studies have found the ratio to be as high as one in four.
New! Essential Guide to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
What does it mean when referring to “gender” and the physical differences between males and females?
Essential Facts About Gender
More women are starting businesses than men, more women are in the workforce than men, and most degree-holders are now women. Yet, according to a recent census, women are still only dominating fields and industries that are often seen as “female.”
Each of us has probably noticed now that men and women think differently. But did you ever stop to think why? Scientists around the globe understand the human brain is primarily composed of two different types of tissues — white and grey matter.
Recent studies reveal that men think more with their gray matter, and women think more with white. While this difference in the white and grey matter doesn’t impact overall intelligence — it does affect how each gender learns.
“LGBTQIA2S+” – What does this term mean, and how does it affect the workplace around you?
People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or gender expansive, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) are members of every community and provide incredibly important contributions to society every day.
Essential Facts About LGBTQIA2S+
Marriage between same-sex couples was first made legal in the Netherlands in 2001. Since then, many additional countries have passed legislation recognizing marriage rights for LGBTQIA2S+ citizens. For instance, the United States and Canadian legislation strive for domestic and employment equality for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of Heterosexuals feel that spouses of married Heterosexual employees and committed partners of Gay and Lesbian employees both should receive untaxed health benefits under federal law.
When you think about your workplace and overall marketplace, what impact are the many “micro-behaviors” and “micro-messages” communicated daily?
Micro-messages are those small but powerful messages you convey daily — sometimes without even saying a word. The small messages relayed through your body language (micro behaviors), tone of voice, and proximity to a person can significantly impact how your message is received.
Essential Facts About Micro-Behaviors / Micro-Messages
58% of effective communication is carried in our body language, 35% in our voice inflection and tone, and only 7% in our actual words.
Active listening and monitoring how you participate in communication are equally crucial as effective speaking. Studies show that 82% of people prefer to talk with great listeners — not great speakers.
Unconscious bias surrounds us. According to various studies:
- Hospital patients can be treated less promptly and effectively based on their race.
- Managers are more likely to hire and promote members of their own in-group.
- Referees in basketball might be more likely to subtly favor players with whom they share a racial identity.
BODY LANGUAGE
VOICE INFLECTIONS
ACTUAL WORDS
For many people, “religion/faith are about worshipping a god or gods. But what does this mean to you?
Many personal beliefs, values, and behaviors are influenced by religion. Religion can help people develop a strong work ethic and good problem-solving skills, and it can guide them during difficult times. By boosting morale, faith impacts a variety of life interactions for many people. Because of this, it has never been as critical as in today’s global marketplace for all of us to respect religious distinctions.
Essential Facts About Religion
The world’s religions are also changing:
- Christianity now holds 31.7% of the world population.
- Islam 24.9%
- Religiously Unaffiliated 15.3%
- Hinduism 14.9%
- Buddhism 6.6%
- Folk or traditional religions 5.6%,
- Religiously Unaffiliated 15.3%
- Other 0.8%
- Judaism 0.2%
What word or phrase comes to mind when you hear the word “veteran”?
For many, the first thought is a person who has served in the military. But think of all the personal beliefs, values, and behaviors influenced by military service.
Work ethic and problem-solving skills to guidance during “tough times,” being a veteran for many impacts a variety of life’s interactions.
Essential Facts About Veterans
Approximately 200,000 service members transition to a veteran status annually. Due to world events, this population is increasing.
Military duties involve a blend of self and group development. Because of this, veterans know how true teamwork requires an overarching objective and those to carry it through. Veterans also have accelerated learning curves and have proven to learn new skills and apply them to real-world situations quickly.
Service members transition to a veteran status annually.
The Essential Dimensions and your DEI Program
Central to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion are managing associated behaviors that often go unrecognized. Suppose your DEI program doesn’t adequately address them. In that case, it often leads to unfortunate challenges facing an organization’s inability to recognize, unwillingness to handle, and lack of progress addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and outcomes. This hidden management component maps your DEI program directly to the eight dimensions this Essential Guide has introduced.
As with any program, the first effort is not always the best. Many businesses make the mistake of initiating a program but fail to maintain the momentum and focus on it. Programs need to grow as:
Leadership coordinates in its commitment to and reinforcement of the program.
Additional resources are developed to support the staff’s efforts.
The organization learns best practices from other organizations.
Employees learn how to integrate program goals into their work.
DEI has evolved from the first programs decades ago. We can expect the concept to continue to change.
Likewise, an organization’s program should move with the times. For these reasons, organizations should treat DE&I programs like any other efforts for which leadership wants to contribute to the organization’s success significantly.
An organization’s program should mature along with society’s changing expectations, the organization’s growth and maturation, and the program’s continued development.
With this information in mind, an organization interested in promoting DEI goals should seriously consider building and maintaining a DEI program to keep the organization’s attention and prioritization on this critical topic.
New! Essential Guide to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
You will learn more about the following topics relating to business and other organizations presenting the evolving understanding of DEI as an integral part of organizational culture and success.
- Two Dimensions of Diversity
- The Role of Equity
- The Critical Role of Inclusion
- Essential Considerations in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Organizational DEI Maturity
- Starting the DEI Journey
