Building a truly inclusive workplace is one of the biggest challenges organisations face today. A review from the CIPD highlights some key principles for fostering inclusion and belonging at work.
First and foremost, inclusion must be led from the top. Senior leaders need to visibly champion inclusion as a strategic priority and hold themselves and others accountable. Having a clear inclusion strategy that is embedded across all people practices is critical.
The review emphasises moving beyond just representation to creating an environment of psychological safety where everyone feels respected, valued and able to bring their whole selves to work. This requires proactively tackling bias, discrimination and micro-aggressions.
Inclusive leadership capabilities like active listening, humility, and creating space for different voices are essential. Leaders should visibly spend time with and learn from diverse employees. At Toto, we firmly believe that building an inclusive workplace is not just the right thing to do – it’s a strategic imperative for unleashing the full potential of our workforce.
Employee resource groups and mentoring circles can provide much-needed support, sponsorship and collaboration. But it’s also vital to engage the majority groups as allies and equip all employees with education to build inclusive mindsets and skills. Data should be used to identify gaps, measure progress and maintain accountability. But inclusion also needs to be embedded into the employee experience through inclusive meeting practices, celebrations and more.
At Toto, we know that building an inclusive workplace is an ongoing journey. By prioritising it at every level and in everything we do, we can fully embrace the diverse talents and perspectives that make our company great.
Click here to read the full CIPD Building Inclusive Workplaces Review.
