New guidance on how to create a diverse and inclusive workplace culture has been published for employers.
The British Standards Institution (BSI)’S Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Code of practice (PAS 1948), sponsored by the All-In Diversity Project, has been released to help organisations build a robust diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) framework.
Offering employers a one-stop-shop service, the free downloadable guidance aims to provide practical support for employers across all sectors globally, applying to traditional working environments including offices and industrial workplaces, to more unusual spaces, such as film sets or sports arenas.
The standard covers areas such as understanding and introducing a variety of concepts, including “diversity of thought” and “cognitive diversity”, among others. It also incorporates practical help around DEI in recruitment and retention, as well as how to ensure services, business methods and technology are inclusive by design.
Additionally, it explores how businesses can tackle behaviour that doesn’t adhere to its principles, as well as how to support and engage underrepresented groups.
Kate Field, global head of health, safety and wellbeing at BSI, said: “A diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace culture that prioritises people has the potential to be transformative for individuals, organisations, and society. This starts with leadership taking steps to turn ambition into action to build and sustain DEI across their organisation.
“Seeing DEI as a valuable investment in people and the future of your organization can offer huge benefits, including in attracting and retaining the very best talent and skills which in turn has the potential to support innovation, customer insight engagement and improve performance. PAS 1948 provides the guidance to empower people to make a positive impact by building workplaces that are inclusive and welcoming to everyone.”
Christina Thakor-Rankin, co-founder of the All-In Diversity Project, added: “This standard is based on four fundamentals: that inclusivity is everyone’s responsibility – not just HR; that not everyone works in an office; that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is changing the way we live and work; and that the business case for inclusive workplaces having been proven, is shifting the focus from why, to how. The aim from the outset has been to create a document that is accessible to anyone, and is applicable to any organization of any type, size and sector, anywhere in the world. It applies where a workplace could be an office, but could just as easily be a studio, stadium, shop, science lab, safari-park, street or outer-space.
“The document covers the principles, but more importantly also includes practical guidance and recommendations, and a basic workplace toolkit that enables an organization to create or develop an existing framework for workplace DEI designed to fit their specific operational needs, and at a budget and pace that works for them. This is a universal standard, that is designed to be used either as a standalone document or alongside other national and international standards.”
