In this episode, Sacha and guest Tori Dean have an in-depth discussion on the importance of addressing the intersectional gap in the employee lifecycle, the impact of society on the workplace, and how to use your privilege honorably.
A few weeks ago, I received an email from a client that said she was approached with a challenge. She stated that a few employees have transitioned during the pandemic and are afraid of the ‘consequences’ when they return to the office. When my client asked their HR team what they could do, they offered the employee assistance program and that they would Google other options.
This is the opposite of inclusive. It’s the intersectional gap.
This week, I had the opportunity to chat with one of the HR leaders about what they could do to prepare for these employees to return to the office. During the conversation, it struck me that every question I asked was met with a policy. It didn’t take long for me to see this as an opportunity to coach someone with good intentions but very little expertise in DEI.
Here are a few tips that they found helpful:
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- Instead of pointing to policy, begin talking about what an inclusive community looks like with key behaviors. Identify what is acceptable and what is not permitted.
- In addition to the policy, what does accountability LOOK like? So many organizations have policies and see toxic behaviors on full display but rarely see repercussions for bad behavior. The lack of transparency feeds into how your organization’s culture is perceived.
- Rather than being reactive to ensure the policies meet the needs of a key demographic, be proactive. Step back and look at your policies with a lens of diversity. Think about who is represented in your organization and WHO IS NOT. Review policies at the intersection of identities as well.
These are just a few ideas. We cover so many more in my conversation with Tori Dean Clements in this week’s episode of DEI After 5 – Minding the Intersectional Gap in Your Diversity Efforts.
Interested in resources on employees transitioning? Here are a few that were shared:
Listen to this episode Minding the Intersectional Gap in your Diversity Efforts with Tori Dean Clements and Sacha Thompson.
Subscribe to “DEI After 5 with Sacha” YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on the platform of your choosing to enjoy this episode.
Looking for support for your organization’s efforts? Schedule your consultation with The Equity Equation today – https://theequityequationllc.com/dei-consultation/
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