Diversity and inclusion are key to organizational excellence. A workplace that reflects the diversity of the community it serves is better equipped to meet the needs of its customers, clients, and patients.
Advancement in diversity and inclusion requires an organization-wide commitment to understanding and valuing differences. It starts with creating a workplace culture that is open and welcoming, where everyone feels safe sharing their ideas and experiences. From there, organizations can work to identify opportunities for increased diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their business.
Though diversity and inclusion are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction between the two concepts. Diversity refers to the visible differences among people, such as race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Inclusion goes beyond diversity by also addressing the invisible factors that can limit employees’ full participation in the workplace – such as their beliefs, attitudes, experiences, or level of education.