Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Consulting

The death of George Floyd moved diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to the forefront of conversations nationally and internationally.

“A lot of us growing up were taught to pray. ‘Let thy kingdom come.’ (and) this is what I continue to pray for, in addition to so many that have been hurt/killed, or simply traumatized by how people of a different color are treated. The worst part is that this is nothing new, ‘it’s just filmed.’” Serena Williams

The cost of racism on the individual and society is clear. How to address racist structures and behaviors is less clear for many individuals and organizations. Attriniti Consulting recognizes both the need for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion(DEI) and Anti-Racism Programs and the challenges that face most companies in creating sustainable and meaningful change. At the heart of our work, we collaborate with our clients to develop professional cultures where open communication is required and a foundation of psychological safety is consistently supported.

The financial cost of racism and lack of diversity in the business world is well-documented. Citi Group determined that the cost of racism, inequality, and discrimination against African Americans has cost the U.S economy over 16 trillion dollars over the past 20 years. Additionally, according to the Mckinsey Report, businesses in the top-quartile for cultural/ethnic diversity on executive teams were 33% more likely to have industry-leading profitability. 

The same study concluded companies in the bottom quartile for both cultural/ethnic diversity and gender were 29% less likely to achieve above-average profitability. The bottom line is clear, companies that have a diverse workforce see a benefit in profits and company culture. Fully realized diversity, equity, and inclusion and anti-racist programs support the overall wellness of organizations and the interests of their employees.

The question is no longer ‘if or when’ you need a DEI plan and Anti-Racist training; the answer is yes,absolutely and NOW.  It’s time to book a free consultation with the DEI consultants at Attriniti Consulting. 

What Is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)?

At a glance diversity in the workplace refers to hiring people from all types of races, age groups, gender, and religious backgrounds. Upon further examination, DEI is a strategy to outline techniques for meeting challenges related to race, gender, religion, and several other dynamics of equity and inclusion. Attriniti Consulting excels in designing an effective approach following a comprehensive assessment and review of the current efforts to better address internal challenges and create sustainable growth.

Keep in mind, the phrase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is also commonly referred to as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Whether you decide to use the term EDI or DEI( they are interchangeable), the ultimate goal of DEI work is to address issues of systemic racism and biases in the workplace. Attriniti Consulting works closely in collaboration with our clients whether you are a government agency, educational institution, or a small, medium, or large business.

Defining Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

Diversity refers to both the qualities that make us unique and individuals while recognizing, respecting and valuing differences based on ethnicity, gender, age, race, religion, disability and sexual orientation. Once upon a time, we considered assimilation, a melting pot as the gold standard; today we know the way forward is to celebrate the tapestry of diversity-each thread and detail significant in its own way while being part of the whole.

Equity gives everyone equal opportunities while also recognizing that biases and barriers do exist. Whether the barriers stem from institutional racism, gender biases, religious indifferences, or a corporate culture that selectively restrict upward mobility. The goal of equity is to create access to opportunities while acknowledging that not everyone begins at the same starting point. 

Lastly, inclusion is the process of making your employees feel valued and appreciated no matter their race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, and many more. There is nothing more valuable than feeling like your voice is heard. Creating a company culture that makes all your employees feel acknowledged and appreciated for their contributions is critical to building an inclusive work culture. 

Why is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Important?

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is a key component of any employee recruitment and retention programs. To attract the best talent and keep them, it is critical to have an inclusive workplace. DEI training  is an investment into your company and the overall success of your employees, yielding significant dividends over time.

Consider this as you select the right DEI consult agency for your organization:

A successful DEI program begins with building trust. Trust will develop when you have an actionable plan, benchmarks, and execution. Too often employees have heard the talk yet employers fall short in their day to day follow through.

Investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion is an investment in the wellness of your employees and the longevity of your organization. 

How To Measure Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your Workplace

Measuring diversity, equity, and inclusion differ from organization to organization. For starters, there are basic yet effective metrics to measure DEI in your workplace. For diversity, a good metric is gender, race, ethnicity, and culture. To get an idea of your current situation, companies typically collect data from their employees to determine the level of diversity. It’s also best practices to compare and contrast past and current company data, to get a full picture of where your company stands. 

Some other metrics are recruitment, retention, and promotional data. All of these data points can help an organization determine whether they are making progress to achieve their DEI goals. Again, your metrics can be developed internally or you can hire an outside DEI consulting firm to collect the data for you. Click here to book a time to learn how the team at Attrinti Consulting can help you get started.

How To Introduce and Support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion In The Workplace?

To truly achieve DEI work companies must address all three levels of organizational change which include systemic, cultural, and behavioral change. Develop inclusionary practices with input from all divisions and group of employees will result in greater ‘buy in’ and in turn better results.

One of the first steps could be to implement changes in the hiring and onboarding process. This is an excellent starting point demonstrating to your employees that DEI is at the forefront of your organization.

Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion requires specific rules or policies that promote DEI at all three organizational levels which are consistently enforced and reviewed.

Why It’s Important For Employees To Have Professional Development In Diversity Equity and Inclusion Training?

Frequent communication between stakeholders, management, and employees is critical  in creating a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion is upheld and truly valued. Hiring a team of DEI consultants ensures that communication is relevant and helps to guide organizations through the challenges associated with DEI and Anti-Racist work. The need for comprehensive DEI and Anti-Racist policies and practices is clear. Hiring an experienced team of consultants is the first step in the journey towards sustainable and meaningful change. The time is now.