Welcoming Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEI&A) are not only essential for creating a thriving workplace, but they're crucial for long-term business success.  Did you know that companies with diverse teams are 36% more likely to enjoy above-average financial returns? (McKinsey & Company)  

But how can remote work foster inclusivity and increase opportunities for underrepresented groups?   

According to the Forbes article “Remote Work Is Great for Equity, Diversity”, remote work serves as a catalyst for a more inclusive workplace. It grants employers access to a diverse talent pool while providing employees with flexible working arrangements. This flexibility, championed by companies with a #remotefirst mentality, particularly benefits women, people with disabilities, and those from diverse backgrounds.

We have defined 6 main focus areas where we think you should concentrate your efforts and start the discussion at your company.  

1. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭  

2. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 

3. 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲  

4. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  

5. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭  

6. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 

1. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Kickstart your DEI&A journey by crafting inclusive, gender-neutral job postings and embracing unbiased candidate screening tools. Also, to ensure that the selection process is fair, your recruiting teams should have diversity and inclusion training, use blind hiring techniques to prevent unconscious bias, and offer accommodation during the process to anyone who may need it.

2. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

Nurturing a diverse team requires ongoing training at all levels. Ensuring that everyone feels valued and included is a crucial step when you have a diverse team. Keep in mind that you should have company focused sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion so it becomes a top priority for everyone. You can keep employees engaged and aware by having a DEI&A committee and giving open sessions and discussions where everyone is able to attend and contribute.  

3. 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Remote work's flexibility levels the playing field, benefiting employees with disabilities or family responsibilities. By offering flexible arrangements, you actively champion DEI&A while attracting top talent.

4. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Effective communication breeds a sense of belonging. Another thing to consider is that, when employees feel comfortable communicating, they are more likely to bring forward ideas, suggestions, and concerns that can lead to positive change and innovation within the company. There are several tools you can use to effectively communicate with your teams, but be mindful of the fact that different people communicate in different ways, have a variety of forums and tools to enable open communication and ensure that everyone can participate and have a chance to contribute. #WeHearAllVoices  

Our Just Cause is to make a difference, no matter how great, no matter how small.

5. 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Everyone in your organization should feel empowered to speak up and make suggestions. One way to do this is by creating employee resource groups to provide a safe space for employees to discuss their experiences and make suggestions for improvement. You can also use platforms where employees can anonymously report experiences in an effective and safe way.  

6. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Accountability is key. At Otonomee , one way to make sure we are moving in the right direction is by having a dedicated committee focused on DEI&A to help keep us on track. This committee regularly reviews our policies and practices to ensure that they are inclusive and fair and helps us identify areas where we need to improve. For the success of these measures, we believe it is crucial that this commitment be embedded in our company culture, and at Otonomee, that starts from the top with our own founder and CEO, Aidan O'Shea , being part of the committee and fully dedicated to this initiative.  

Remote work, as a catalyst for inclusivity, not only broadens the talent pool but also cultivates a flexible environment, particularly benefiting underrepresented groups.

Our success is defined by the positive impact we make, no matter how great or small and we are committed to being #inclusive, #equitable, and #diverse.

From unbiased recruitment practices to ongoing training, flexibility, open communication, empowerment, and unwavering accountability – every action is a step towards a more inclusive world.

#DEI #DiversityAndInclusion #RemoteWork #Inclusivity #WorkplaceCulture