A diverse and inclusive workplace is an innovative and productive workplace. Fostering equality in the workplace not only widens a company’s talent pool but also improves employee retention.
Because of this, sixty percent (60%) of the world’s biggest companies have a specific Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) or a role similar to that today.
However, inclusivity can look different from one company to another. For some, it means hiring and retaining women, persons with special needs, and other minorities in various positions in the office. Others provide training and seminars to help their employees develop inclusive behaviors in the workplace.
If you’re starting your career and want to do so at a company that welcomes everyone from all walks of life, here are some signs of an inclusive workplace you should look out for.
Check The Company’s Mission/Vision and Core Values.
A great place to check for signs of an inclusive workplace is a company’s mission/vision statement. If the company truly values diversity and inclusivity, it should be stated there clearly.
Take Remote Staff, for example. One of our core values is: “Together is better.” This means that, aside from helping you find your dream online job, we also strive to ensure that your working relationship with your client is healthy and productive.
Observe Your Company’s Demographic.
Having the words “diverse” or “inclusive” in your company’s vision/mission looks nice. But if they’re not really putting those into practice, those are just empty, flowery words.
And the best way to see whether your company is inclusive is to look at your in-house team. Look at the people who are in leadership positions. How many of them are women? How many of your co-workers are foreigners?
Again, I’ll use Remote Staff as an example. There are ten (10) women in leadership positions vs. four (4) male managers. In addition, the company has seventy-one (71) female employees and just twenty-nine (29) male employees. So, it could be said that we’re the reverse of a typical company, since the majority are female.
Employees are Encouraged to Bring Up Their Concerns With Their Supervisors.
Another of the signs that shows you’re working in an inclusive company is if your supervisors encourage you to raise your concerns and opinions with them. This could be through daily status meetings, surveys, or even informal conversations with them.
Your supervisors genuinely valuing your voice can have a significantly positive impact on workplace morale. It shows that your thoughts and ideas matter to them, further motivating you to share these in future meetings.
The Company Provides Opportunities for Additional Training and Growth.
Today’s business environment is marked by rapid change and the rise of AI. If your company wants its employees to keep up with these changes, they’ll need to assist them in their upskilling efforts.
Inclusive employers know this and thus provide whatever support they can give their employees. Not only will they help sharpen your skills, but this shows that they care about your development and aspirations.
Employees Have Easier Access to Resources They Need.
Besides providing appropriate training, inclusive employers also assist employees who need the right equipment to work effectively.
Some employees may require laptops or computers, for instance. While others, such as remote PWD workers, may require assistive tools to help them do their tasks.
Supervisors Promote Teamwork and Collaboration With Other Departments.
Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say.
One hallmark of inclusive employers is that instead of favoring the old top-down management style, they emphasize working together as a team. Even when it means collaborating within and outside your department.
This management style helps you get to know each other better, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie between you and your co-workers.
You’re Having Fun at Work.
A diverse and inclusive workplace produces happy and productive employees. It is also a very good sign that your virtual office has a healthy workplace culture.
Yes, you and your co-workers won’t always be all smiles at work. Especially once the challenging assignments start piling up.
But if you can wake up early for work because you’re excited to interact with your co-workers, that’s a clear sign you’re working in an inclusive workplace.
A Great Workplace is an Inclusive One.
Today, many companies advertise themselves as an “inclusive” and “welcoming” workplace to attract applicants, when in reality, they’re none of these things.
To avoid falling for their tricks, look for the previously mentioned signs to ensure you’re signing in with an inclusive workplace.
If you don’t know where to start looking for online jobs, Remote Staff is here to help. Our jobs list has a wide selection of available positions for you to choose from.
So if you didn’t find the job you want to apply for today, you can try again tomorrow.
Good luck!
