Fostering workplace equity involves a collective effort across all organisational levels, shifting the onus from leaders and individuals in underrepresented groups to a shared commitment throughout the entire organisation. To understand the multifaceted nature of building an equitable workplace through a top-down, bottom-up approach, we've outlined some key steps for each level. 

Organisational level 

When organisational leadership lacks diversity, creating a workplace that caters to the unique needs of all groups becomes challenging. To ensure equitable practices at this level, consider: 

  • Encouraging diverse partnerships: Leaders hold the power to make decisions for an entire organisation, made up of individuals with diverse and unique needs. What seems right by the leader may be experienced very differently for others. By partnering with diverse individuals or communities, you can gain insights and perspectives that can inform equitable decision-making and practices across the organisation.  

  • Accommodating flexible work arrangements: Coming into 2024, many organisations are creating back-to-work plans, some with an aim to have everyone back in the office on a full-time basis. Whilst this is helpful for collaboration and team connection, it can limit the opportunities and growth of others. Consider this, McKinsey’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report found that 20% of women reported that having flexibility in their work arrangements enabled them to remain in their current job/ prevented them from reducing their working hours. As a result, more women are taking on leadership positions due to flexible work allowing them to meet all priorities in their life.  

Team level 

Within an organisation, there's an overarching culture and additional sub-cultures within teams. Considering the unique needs and perspectives within each team, it's vital to create a human-centric team culture that accommodates diverse needs. Ways to ensure team cohesion include: 

  • Equitable workload distribution: Distributing work equitably involves considering factors like current workload, skill level, growth opportunities, flexibility, and adaptability. By addressing these considerations, teams can create an environment where success is shared, and individual growth is prioritised alongside team success. Some questions to consider when distributing upcoming tasks or projects include: 

    • Will extra work overburden certain team members? Have they got competing demands or deadlines? 
    • Can certain tasks or projects serve as developmental opportunities for certain team members? How might this support them in their growth? 
    • Have certain team members got a lot on their plate this week? Could they take on new tasks next week instead? 
    • Does this team member have the necessary skills to do this work? Do they need additional support to prevent overwhelm or burnout? 

  • Team culture interventions: Addressing and managing psychosocial risks is crucial in enhancing team culture. A common psychosocial risk within teams is poor workplace relationships which can be worsened by the presence of microaggressions. Microaggressions can harm job satisfaction, self-efficacy, productivity, and team trust. Reducing microaggressions and its various forms involves uncovering and transforming unconscious biases within a team’s culture. Team culture interventions accomplish this and enhance team behaviours that contribute to a more equitable and inclusive team environment. 

Individual level 

  • Enhancing diversity intelligence: Taking personal responsibility, individuals can educate themselves on the experiences of those different from them. Researching the lived experiences of various cultures, religions, genders, sexualities, or abilities fosters a more informed and equitable approach to working. Diversity intelligence courses can guide individuals in enhancing responsiveness and promoting collaboration and inclusivity. 

 

To explore tailored solutions for making your organisation, team, or employees more equitable, reach out to our team at Veraison. Our following services can be a great place to start to explore how you can take a step towards a more inclusive and progressive workplace: