Editor’s Picks

If we want workplace education to create impact, it must be memorable, engaging and applicable to real life.

As we move beyond the pivotal moments the last few years have brought us, now more than ever employees are holding their companies accountable when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion—not just in February, but all year long.

Prompted by cultural movements like #MeToo, there is a new awareness of the damage harassment can do. But while we might want to think workplace harassment is behind us, it’s not.

What does it take for managers to leverage the power of these diverse teams? And, how can you ensure they get the support they need to create an environment that makes employees want to stay? The answer is in cultivating inclusive management practices throughout your organization.

Beginning in 2017 with the #MeToo movement and propelled by the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, there was a strong call for all companies, including tech, to rethink their approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In the years that followed, across the spectrum of industries, companies were put in a position of self-reflection and choice about how they would tackle this issue going forward.

In preparing for this piece, I set my sights on demystifying the term “equity,” as in diversity, equity, and inclusion, (DEI). I wanted to explore the part equity plays in creating a healthier workplace culture, which led me to this question: “What exactly is the difference between ‘equity’ and ‘equality’?”

For 75 years, SHRM has served millions of HR professionals who-in turn have continued on to impact the lives of billions of workers across the world. When we attended SHRM22 in New Orleans last week, we celebrated the relationships formed over those years and how we can move forward collectively to make workplaces better, for everyone.

A lot has changed in our workplaces (and for our employees) over the last two years. Now more than ever, the emphasis on your diversity and inclusion efforts is in the spotlight. We already know there is joy, power, and positive kickbacks when you recognize the full value of everyone on your team.

You already know managers are critical to ensuring your organizational DEI efforts are successful. But did you know that to be a constructive part of DEI, managers have a specific set of needs that must be met?

It’s been some years since the #MeToo movement heightened awareness about workplace harassment, but that journey is far from over. During the time that has passed, we experienced an awakening and a call to “do something.” Now in 2022, a focus on inclusivity is reinforcing the charge that all people must be treated with fairness and respect.