Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion: The Heart of a Healthy Workplace Culture
There is a resounding feeling of distrust and burnout from harmful leaderships/power dynamics amidst our intergenerational work spaces. The lack of personal safety and support that continues to encourage black, female, neurodiverse, parenting and other silenced employees to flee our corporations only highlights the dire need for healthy workplace culture. Such culture recognizes that wellness is collective, engaging employees where they are at to create a genuine sense of belonging that is proactively promoted among employees. At the heart of this movement is the concept of equity, belonging, and inclusion (EBI).
When we think of a healthy organization, we often focus on policies that center physical wellness, employee benefits, and work-life balance. However, true health and wellness in the workplace is a proactive process of collaboratively creating work together. Designing a work environment that reflects the individuals while addressing the harmful power dynamics that impede psychological safety, is how work teams show up authentically, issues are proactively addressed, and solutions are easily innovated. Fostering true belonging promotes a positive view of self as a foundation for resiliency throughout the organization.
Centering EBI within an organization means that everyone - regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or any other identity characteristic - has equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in their personal and professional lives. When organizations focus on EBI, they create a work environment that values diversity and promotes mutual respect, collaboration and while recognizing the system inequities that are barriers to everyone thriving, equally. Tactics such as proactively clarifying communication and decision making and promoting a sense of belonging are data-driven ways to increase engagement, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. This, in turn, leads to increased productivity and innovation, higher retention rates, and a more positive work environment. The Intersection of EBI and Healthy Org Culture
A healthy work culture is one that prioritizes the well-being and belonging of all employees, regardless of their role, education or identity. Creating policies and practices that support employee wellness is done by designing opportunities for employees to tell you how they are and what they may need to continue accuracy and productivity. Providing flexible and/or regular scheduling, parental leave, and mental health resources. It also means creating psychologically safe relationships by interrupting disempowering power dynamics (think gender roles in the office) and environments through open communication and collaboration that values diversity, authenticity, and belonging.
At Intersectional Innovations, we recognize that EBI and healthy work culture are intrinsically linked and that creating more equitable and healthy workplaces is a mission worth pursuing. To truly create a healthy work environment, organizations must prioritize EBI. This means examining how EBI is integrated into organizational culture, assessing how it's being measured, and understanding what more needs to be done to create healthier work environments.
This is why we’ve created an EBI & Healthy Org survey, which aims to explore these critical intersections. By bringing together a community of individuals passionate about creating more equitable and healthy work environments, we want to connect expert qualitative narratives with race and gender in work data. We need to hear from your DEI/EBI thought leaders, executives, data geniuses, researchers, consultants, and practitioners, as we work together to create a more comprehensive understanding of the state of EBI and healthy work culture today.
We invite you to participate in this EBI & Healthy Org survey to make it possible for us to accomplish the mission of outlining what a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable workplaces.
Together, we can build a future where all employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to bring their whole selves
This survey seeks to explore the intersections between Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (EBI) and healthy work culture. We need your voice to determine how EBI should be integrated into organizational culture, how this should be measured, and the recommendations needed to create healthier work environments across industries. We believe that by gathering input from you, we can create a more comprehensive understanding of the state of EBI and healthy work culture today.
By participating, you will lend your expertise to our white paper while joining a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating a more equitable and inclusive world. You'll have the opportunity to share your valuable insights and learn from others who are working towards the same goal.
Click here to make your voice heard and help us build healthier workspaces!