Workplaces

Breaking Down DEI: The Importance of Equity in the Workplace

May 26, 2023

Would you consider your workplace to be a fair and equitable environment? Sure, your workplace could be diverse, but is your employer taking the necessary steps to provide support to workers who need it the most?

Equity in the workplace entails acknowledging the effects that systemic injustices have in the workplace. Equitable policies seek to even the playing field by recognizing that biases, both intentional and unintentional, affect the outcomes employees face in the day-to-day course of work. Equity in the workplace focuses on making sure that all employees, regardless of their background, have the necessary tools they need to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. As the number of diverse candidates in the workplace rises, so do the number of unique challenges that employees may face. Now, it is up to companies to find ways to assist those employees who may need help with accessibility, mental health, their financial situation and more.

An equitable workplace is more than just a place where all employees are treated fairly, but a place where workers get the custom support that they need to feel respected and empowered to do their jobs. A report from Mckinsey and Company found that only 8.1 percent of Fortune-500 companies have female CEOs and only 8 percent of all C-suite executives were black. In addition, an alarming 55 percent reported experiencing discrimination at work. Fostering an equitable and safe environment for employees is now more pressing than ever before and statistics show that many workplaces are not doing a great job at equitably distributing power.

Equality Versus Equity

While they are extremely similar, there is one key difference between equity and equality: Equality provides everybody with the same resources to do their job, while equity provides people with the right tools, they need to do their job. Equality is simply treating everybody the same, which is wonderful, but still may not provide the necessary help to employees who need it more than others. DEI is not a “one size fits all” or quick-fix solution, but something that takes time and effort from an employer to implement. Correctly implementing practices at work that promote equity is key to employee retention, higher quality work and a fair environment for all.

Equality vs Equity Cartoon

Source: https://interactioninstitute.org/

While they are extremely similar, there is one key difference between equity and equality: Equality provides everybody with the same resources to do their job, while equity provides people with the right tools, they need to do their job. Equality is simply treating everybody the same, which is wonderful, but still may not provide the necessary help to employees who need it more than others. DEI is not a “one size fits all” or quick-fix solution, but something that takes time and effort from an employer to implement. Correctly implementing practices at work that promote equity is key to employee retention, higher quality work and a fair environment for all.

According to a Deloitte survey, nearly 80 percent of over 1300 respondents said equity and inclusion were an important factor when choosing a company. Despite that, a study conducted by Gallup revealed that only 28 percent of employees actually feel like their organization is fair to all.

A Report from Mckinsey and Company revealed that 55 percent of respondents report experiencing discrimination at work.

True equity in the workplace recognizes that each employee has different advantages, access to varying privileges, and different opportunities. Because of this, employers must find ways to provide fair opportunities to everyone based on their individual needs. According to a study from Culture Amp, authentically equitable workplaces experience a three percent increase in employees feeling like they are “part of a team”, are six percent more likely to have engaged managers and are seven percent more likely to feel proud to work for their organization. Employees at these workplaces also enjoy seven percent more new opportunities at work than those who work at companies without DEI policies in place.

Kokomo24/7® Can Help

Kokomo24/7® understands that every workplace has its own set of unique needs. We can provide your workplace with a robust, yet easy-to-use technology platform that simplifies the complicated work of DEI implementation.

Equity in the workplace has never been more important and Kokomo24/7® is here for you. Get the health and safety platform that your company needs to navigate the complex and ever-changing circumstances surrounding implementing custom equity strategies in your workplace.

Ever since Kokomo24/7® was founded in 2018, we have been a leader in compliance and risk management solutions for all things health and safety. Kokomo proudly serves schools, communities, and workplaces. Our mission is to deliver highly effective, easy-to-use, and trusted compliance and risk management solutions that bridge the gap between public safety and technology.  

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