The workplace is somewhere that should make everyone feel valued no matter their race, gender or sexuality. So long as the quality of work remains high, the entire team should feel as though they fit in. If they don’t, you may have a culture issue in your workplace.
As a leader, it’s your responsibility to make the workplace safe for all employees to be themselves. They shouldn’t have to repress their personality to fit in with the wider team. Inclusivity is the way to achieve this but it can sometimes be lacking in workplaces.
A report from 2022 found that just 30% of employees thought their workplace was committed to inclusivity, which means the scope for improvement across the UK is huge.
Inclusivity can be done in a wide range of ways and the benefits it brings help both leaders and employees. This makes embracing inclusivity vital, so start today to create a working environment that values all people.
If you’re unsure how this can be done, we can help. Our guide below has some different ways you can achieve this and more information about the benefits. Continue reading to find out more.
What are the benefits of creating an inclusive workplace?
A greater pool of talent
Inclusive workplaces are sought after by employees, which means you’ll have a huge pool of people who want to work for you. This ensures you can put the best team together to drive your business forward.
While this may mean you’ll have a great in-house team, technical tasks such as tax compliance may still be best handled by external specialists like RSM Global. This will give your team more time to focus on the work they’re best at, helping to take your business to the next level.
Lower turnover of staff
In a business where staff members feel valued for who they are, they may be more reluctant to leave in search of another job. This ensures you have a strong workforce at all times, so you can deliver top work for clients.
Increase your brand’s reputation
Brands that are progressive and welcome diversity in the workplace often come highly rated by customers. People are willing to pay for your products or services because of what you stand for, which should help you boost sales and, in turn, profitability.
According to a study, almost 65% of consumers are more likely to buy a product when they see inclusive and diverse advertisements. This shows the growth potential your business could see.
Understand your customers better
When you have a diverse team, you’ll introduce a wide range of knowledge about how consumers think. Your team may make services more inclusive for customers due to their backgrounds, allowing you to grow your target market and connect with them on a deeper level.
How can I make my business more inclusive?
If you want to reap these rewards, you can easily incorporate new inclusion policies into your workplace. Here are some ways to do just that:
- Recognise cultural and religious holidays
- Introduce diversity and inclusivity training for employees
- Ensure pay is equal
- Ask for feedback from employees to see how they think you can improve
- Write inclusive job ads
