In 2022, DEI has become increasingly more prevalent in HR forward-planning
Diversity – what was once a generalist buzzword is now the lynchpin of forward-thinking leadership. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that DEI is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s the difference between a successful organizational strategy and one that’s doomed to fail. But what do we mean when we talk about authentic diversity? In HRD’s recent 5-Star Diversity and Inclusion Employers 2022, we spoke with a collective of leading organizations to glean what they believe constitutes inclusivity in Canada.
“A truly diverse workplace is made up of a collective, meaningful effort by both the organization and employees, including diversity of thought and ideas,” Sada Carman, HR generalist at BlueCat, told HRD. “You only get that when you are being intentional about having a diverse group of people at the organization. This, of course, impacts so many pieces of the employee lifecycle from recruitment, to onboarding, to development and retention. We must ensure that we are looking at all areas of the employee lifecycle and measurable, focused DEI goals around the lifecycle. These efforts promote empathy, compassion, and the principles of equity to support an environment that embraces diversity for our team and community.”
In 2022, DEI has become increasingly more prevalent in HR forward-planning. If we consider what drove meaningful change in DEI over the past 12 months, we’re reminded of societal changes and global movements. Events such as the murder of George Floyd, #MeToo, Greta Thunberg’s activism – change always begins outside of the workplace. It’s up to HR leaders to reflect those changes in their company culture and mission.
“Far too often, diversity is treated as one item on a list of countless boxes to check when assessing company culture and public image,” added Rolddy Leyva, chief diversity officer at technology giant Splunk. “In addition to leadership commitment and accountability, DEI success ultimately depends on innovative thinking, bold ideas, a commitment to embrace each and every employee voice as well as bringing everyone along the journey.
“The most impactful DEI leaders pull rich perspectives from every corner and it’s critical you have the ability to assess, listen and amplify voices within an organization. DEI cannot be exclusive to any one team or person – everyone has a role to play, an experience to share and an ear to give.”
Check out HRD’s recent 5-Star Diversity and Inclusion Employers Awards here.
