Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace Is Good for Business- 3 Tips

by Johanna Godinez

Every Hispanic business should recognize all facets of diversity, equity and inclusion talent.

Recognizing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace is key to harnessing the full value of everyone on your team.

An inclusive workforce is one in which everyone from employees, to managers, distributors, vendors, clients, and consumers feel seen and appreciated as part of the workplace culture. In today’s era, it’s important for businesses to create a sense of diversity, inclusivity and equality that leads to a culture of equality for themselves and their community.  

Inclusion should be an omnipresent focus for organizations and although social injustice may  sometimes be what initiates efforts towards more inclusion & diversity, more and more businesses are beginning to raise the bar on their level of awareness and decision making when it comes to a wider band of inclusion, diversity, and equality. Smart businesses should know that this thoughtful process of reflecting the community at large within their company can lead to major growth.

Hispanic businesses or any businesses that have been shown to foster inclusive practices when it comes to hiring, promoting, and developing their leaders and managers, have produced 30 percent higher revenue per employee. This has led to higher profit margins versus their competition. When a business does not have a culture of inclusivity, the lack of diversity in teams may decrease the efficiency of the teams’ outcomes. 

Inclusion practices will remain a vital component for successful organizations. Research has shown that when employees feel included, they develop a sense of belonging which not only improves performance, but also leads to more efficient and collaborative teams that are more inventive and successful. When employees feel like they are included and appreciated as they are, they become more involved with the entire organization, leading to better engagement, retention, productivity, and overall success.

When you decide to create a corporate culture that fosters inclusivity, it is imperative that there is buy-in from top level managers, so that inclusivity is upheld as one of the company’s core values. To really create a company’s culture, everyone must understand the significance of inclusivity, regardless of the role they have in the company, so that all involved have access to the same treatment, resources, growth, and experiences.

3 Tips to Generate Inclusivity Within Your Hispanic Business:

  1. Employees should feel free to express themselves and their unique ideas and perspectives. When everyone feels like their lives, choices, and efforts are embraced and respected, companies tend to face less absenteeism, turnover and HR related situations. 
  2. Support welcoming and inclusive language by encouraging the use of gender-neutral terms like partner and spouse, especially when the marital status of a particular employee is unknown. Welcoming language helps create a sense of community and belonging that highly supports teamwork and collaboration. 
  3. When it comes to training and growth within your corporation, everyone should be able to take advantage of trainings or promotions based on their skills, seniority, and performance. When companies commit to developing their culture and people, it starts with the onboarding process. There should be clear policies, visions, values, and codes of conduct that allow all employees to be on the same page and have clarity as to what is expected of them in terms of withholding your company’s culture.

A strong corporate culture founded on inclusivity will not only build trust, and foster a positive office environment, but it will also build stronger employee-employee and employee-manager relationships, where everyone can feel appreciated, heard, supported, and able to succeed.

Related Content:

Diversity is A Key to Growing Your Business, Even a Hispanic Business

Why Diversity and Inclusivity Is Good for Latinos and Your Business

PGA LEAD Is Fostering Leadership, Inclusion and Diversity [Video]