Diversity Climate: Factors for Successful Implementation

We are experiencing a gradual shift when it comes to how organisations can attract and support diverse talents at work. In recent decades, researchers have documented the benefits and challenges of employing a diversified workforce comprising different ages, genders, racio-ethnicities, cultures, and neurological differences. Yet, there is limited research dictating how firms can promote a truly inclusive workplace for their employees. Instead, practitioners often mistakenly assume that simply hiring greater numbers of employees that have visible differences is sufficient. To remedy this, we propose three practical recommendations to help managers create and sustain supportive diversity and inclusion climates in modern workplaces that allow them to leverage the benefits and minimise the drawbacks of a diverse workforce. These include demonstrating top management’s commitment to diversity, aligning diversity initiatives with strategic goals, and ensuring that cultural symbols and artefacts reinforce the value of diverse perspectives.