July 20, 2020
By Miguel Blanco, Nicole Yap, Inquirer.net
The topics of diversity and inclusion are highly polarizing. In the workplace, this manifests most glaringly in human resources and hiring practices. But for all the opposition to diversity, the fact remains that there are multiple benefits to an inclusive culture, both from a societal and economic perspective.
Companies that embrace diversity in the workplace are twice as likely to meet and exceed financial goals. They are also six times more likely to advance and six times better at anticipating and accepting change. Every employee in a diverse team also generates 30% more revenue and enjoys 35% better results compared to homogenous organizations.
Even with these impressive numbers that highlight the advantages of diversity, a study showed that only 57% of companies employ hiring strategies that draw in diverse talent. This is a big blow to the other 47% since 67% of job seekers gauge a company’s acceptance of diversity as a factor in applying.
Take Courses about Diversity
The big question now is why is diversity still an issue if the advantages are so apparent? The quick answer is conscious and unconscious bias. While workplaces are generally moving in the right direction, changing mindsets, discriminatory beliefs, and culture take time.
Until the day companies become 100% committed to diversity, you can take your own steps to unlearn your own biases through these free online courses on diversity and inclusion.
Understanding Diversity and Inclusion by FutureLearn
This FutureLearn course teaches about diversity and helps develop your knowledge and understanding of it. Diversity is more than just race ethnicities and national origin.
This course breaks down the definition to include criteria such as age, religion, and many others. It also provides you the tools that foster an open environment that welcomes all.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace by Coursera
This Coursera course explores the contradiction of diversity. On one hand, we need to hear and see things that are different from what we already know to benefit from diversity. However, hearing and seeing differences triggers a reflex of discrimination.
This course sheds light on this paradox to understand its dynamics, manage it, and channel the potential of diversity into actual innovation in the workplace.
Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace by Coursera
This is another course by Coursera which explores sexual and gender identities and what the term LGBTQIA really means.
Using a variety of interdisciplinary concepts, tools, and methods, the course explains how sex and gender play an important role in the experience of culture and the workplace.
This course also opens up the topic of gender expectations and how this concept affects all professions and the understanding of the world in general.
How Leaders can Champion Diversity and Inclusion
There are also specialized courses towards managers to help shed biases and create a sense of belonging in the workplace.
Leading With Effective Communication (Inclusive Leadership Training) by edX
This course by edX teaches managers specific approaches, frameworks, and tools for effective communication. The course also teaches how communication supports an inclusive leadership style.
It also sheds light on strategies to create a safe space of authentic communication and employee engagement.