What are our values, backgrounds, and visible and invisible labels? a co-worker at a previous employer once asked me. The key features of oppression are: When the facilitator talks about these concepts with the group, it is helpful to start with an understanding that everyone experienced being a target or agent at some point in their lives. Here are answers to common questions about virtual diversity and inclusion activities. Content Expert at teambuilding.com. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. These discussions aim to bring diverse groups of workers together in such a way that allows them to positively contribute to organizations by putting aside their differences and working together as a team. Allow employees to practice their religion in the workplace. This can sometimes lead to frustration amongst employees and productivity loss. Your email address will not be published. January 14, 2021. Therefore it is important to note that part of this training will involve having diversity and inclusion discussion topics. For this version of the game, we suggest instead of team members taking turns making Never Have I Ever statements, a leader reads through the prompts one by one. Jim, a member of one the new work teams, recently spoke with his supervisor about his team. Everyone will have a chance to share and be heard by the group. Appreciate it! One of the most influential ways we can practice inclusive behavior at our workplace is by talking about it. Explore any of these five-minute exercises that center on a relevant diversity, inclusion and access topic. (For a full explanation of how each racial category is defined, refer to the U.S.Census About Race page). At the very least, participants meet someone new and exchange ideas with that person. Some people claim that unconscious bias is the archenemy of innovation. 1. Objective for the day Develop better understanding of key concepts fundamental to fostering diversity and inclusion in work spaces. I will probably be again to read rather more, thanks for that info. To achieve true generational diversity, we must look beyond just age discrimination. Bingo is one of the most fun virtual diversity and inclusion icebreakers. By Joy Oguntimein. Some of the behaviors indicating proficiency in Global & Cultural Effectiveness are: demonstrating nonjudgmental respect for others' perspectives; possessing self-awareness and humility in order to learn from others; and appreciating the commonalities, values and individual unique attributes of all human beings. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); Team members can tune into online talks while working remotely, and can listen passively or comment and question in the chat. Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion Exploring My Power and Privilege Toolkit. You can look within your company, community, or recruit a subject matter expert from beyond your circle. Intro to Implicit Bias in Workplace Scenarios. InstructionsBreak participants into small groups and give them a printout of the chart below. if this okay with you. 3. All responses are worthy of reflection in terms of their cultural and hegemonic influences. This activity provides a glimpse into colleagues nonwork lives and helps teammates get to know and understand each other better. In this activity, teammates turn Zoom meetings into digital art galleries by changing their virtual backgrounds. Belonging can lead to a 56% increase in job performance, a 50% reduction in turnover risk, a 167% increase in employer net promoter score, 2X more employee raises, 18X more employee promotions, and a 75% decrease in sick days. If the speaker allows, then you can also post these talks publicly to raise more widespread awareness of these issues. At the end of the training, facilitators should be prepared to provide additional resources for participants who want to learn more about issues of identity, power and privilege. This activity helps to establish a basis of respect within the group, helping the participants take the first steps toward creating and maintaining a constructive discussion of social justice and equity. Stage 3: Point to your own and the customer's professionalism and politely ask him to focus on topics related to your service and products. Communication barriers. A note on facilitators: Facilitators should be well versed in the topics and themes we will be discussing, but they do not need to be experts. The point is not to agree and to learn from each others differences. This exercise can show the diversity of thought within the group while also revealing similarities. Note that we made this template to celebrate differences, and not to tokenize. Provide health and wellness reimbursements. To hold remote book clubs, first create a Slack channel for the group. My blog site is in the exact same area of Please let me know For example, do we think the words teachman or runman are more correct than teacher or runner? One of the ways to promote inclusion or cultural diversity in your workplace is to hold regular culture days. Care packages are one of the most fun work from home diversity and inclusion activities. Expedia's diversity video shows that the company welcomes people of all backgrounds . You must avoid rude or sarcastic comments. For example, online employee resource groups, remote holiday celebrations, and Zoom lunch and learns. Agent:Members of dominant social groups privileged by birth or acquisition who knowingly or unknowingly exploit and reap unfair advantage over members of the target groups. This will allow everyone to start the conversations on the same page and ensure that the participants have a foundation upon which to build future knowledge. ObjectiveThe following activity is particularly useful when working with participants who dont know one another very well. To do this activity, first pick an assortment of products from diverse business owners. 2. Whether it is intentional or not, which is hard to discern most of the time, it still poses a subtle threat the unity inclusion brings. There are many ways for facilitating diversity conversations in the workplace that can help you bring the topic to your workplace. Understand when questions are hitting too close to home and encourage the person by giving answers from your own experience to the same questions youre asking. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? Been told to go back where you came from.. Perhaps you are a teacher, youth group facilitator, student affairs personnel or manage a team that works with an underserved population. Words mentioned more frequently will appear larger, and vice versa. Conclusion. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Religious belief is not considered a race, but can be a factor in identifying ones sociocultural group. The host shares a storytelling framework and leads groups in exercises designed to practice creating and sharing compelling narratives. ), College Committee for Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action, When the Rules are Fair, but the Game Isnt, (PDF, 177 KB), Black Males and Racism: Improving the Schooling and Life Chances of African Americans,, Uncommon Common Ground: Race and Americas Future,, Grand Challenge: Achieve Equal Opportunities and Justice, A Booklet of Interactive Exercises to Explore Our Differences (PDF, 228 KB), Valuing Ethnic Diversity: A Cultural Awareness Workshop (PDF, 3.4 MB). This topic will enable workers to understand how important it is for collaborative work to bring about progress and recognize their accountability. Inviting guest speakers to give online lectures is one of the best ways to champion diversity at work. Here are 10 activities to help improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! This shows that the advantages of D&I practices cannot be overemphasized. I have or someone in my family has a physical disability. Employees are able to contribute to the album and feel like a part of a bigger whole, and the intimate nature of the activity is a powerful means of remote team building. Learn more about Storytelling Workshops, and check out more communication activities. Unfortunately, such situations are not an anomaly for me and other people of diverse origins. Here are more relationship building activities. Then, give team members access to the album and encourage them to contribute pictures. Sharing firsthand experiences is an important part of building trust, spreading knowledge, and inspiring change. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses. Institutional legal system, education system, public policy, hiring practices, media images. Diversity Recruiting Strategies and How to Recruit Diverse Candidates, Diversity Management: What is it and Concept, Managing Diversity in the Workplace: 10 Strategies, Fostering Inclusion: Work Environment | 12 Ways to do it, Fostering Diversity in the Workplace : How to Do it in 10 Ways, Benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Inclusive Behaviors in The Workplace | 15 Ways to Promote it. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { $(document).ready(function () { Hold up the bag (in an inconspicuous manner) so that all groups see the bag that is being given to each group. Gain the intel you need now to successfully anticipate and navigate employment laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks. While diversity, equity, and inclusion are related concepts, they do have their own distinct . Before initiating any activity, it is critical that the group builds communal agreements. There is no one guide to do this. Were there questions you were hoping would not be asked? To unlock the full content, please fill out our simple form and receive instant access. When responses are in, put submissions into a word cloud generator. When it comes to discussing diversity in the workplace and microaggression, not enough is being talked about on the matter. Had to use a different name to get respect. Differential and unequal treatment is institutionalized and systematic. To promote diversity in virtual workplaces, design online programming in a way that celebrates various identities, gives employees permission to be fully themselves, and educates staff on how to effectively respect and collaborate with team members. Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Activities (or DEI activities for short) are exercises you can do with your team to promote a workplace culture that values every employee's unique individuality while also creating a sense of acceptance and belonging. Accepting/appreciating someones ideas, even when you dont agree with them. Team building content expert. Cross-cultural training helps workers from other countries experience less shock and discomfort when relocating for work in a new city. Thank you for your feedback, you can definitely quote our content as far as you add a source link back to us. These groups can be an effective way to promote camaraderie in remote offices, and the very existence of the groups can improve awareness and communicate the companys dedication to supporting employees and creating spaces for staff to be fully themselves. Please purchase a SHRM membership before saving bookmarks. Fostering diversity means acknowledging and understanding different viewpoints. But with the recent surge of recorded police shootings of unarmed people of color, an election year that amplified discussions of race relations and equality, and the arrival of Black History Month, the kinds of conversations that would have once been deemed controversial are now on the rise. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); How does familiarity affect our perception of a words correctness? $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); Once a month, select a title to read for the next meeting, perhaps by voting. Encouraging (D&I) diversity discussions through dedicated meetings and/or company culture have proven to be very useful in bringing employees to a state of obligation to inclusivity in the workplace. This game is a go-to icebreaker for groups, and you can alter the prompts to highlight the struggles of different communities. The contributions of workers, especially those whom these various topics may apply to personally, will give employers and department heads an insight into proper policy and acceptability management that will make the workplace function in a productive capacity. Each month, you can read and discuss a book or article by a diverse author and/or about race, sexuality, disability, or creating equitable spaces. The integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. Taking that leap is a great opportunity to set the tone for inclusion throughout your organizationand a learning experience to take with you throughout life. Participants who mark five squares in a row get Bingo. Or, you can simply make more of an effort to source seasonal care package products from diverse businesses. DiscussionWhat is privilege? Unlike legislation that is implemented through sanctions, diversity management is a voluntary organizational action. Even if there is no one within the group that a statement applies to, can take stock of privilege. Meal-centered activities are one of the most alluring ways to promote diversity. SHRM Employment Law & Compliance Conference, Effective Workplace Conversations on Diversity, New OSHA Guidance Clarifies Return-to-Work Expectations, Trump Suspends New H-1B Visas Through 2020, Faking COVID-19 Illness Can Have Serious Consequences, The New German Whistleblower Protection Act. The "Cross the Line" activity is a great way to make this happen. One, it saves you a lot of work. The latest research carried out by theWorld Economic Forumfinds that the economic divide is getting wider in many regions, and even where its closing, progress is still too slow. Required fields are marked *. I have a close friend who is a person of color. Be the first to rate this post. of the information you present here. These (D&I) diversity and inclusion talking points should help with the discussions that may come up in meetings between employers and employees. These discussions will cover key matters related to workplace D&I. It is the first vital activity to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. You can open the meeting by talking briefly about the backgrounds, or typing the name of the piece and the artist into the chat. List of virtual diversity and inclusion activities. Just as we mentioned earlier in this article, we must communicate with each other in the workplace over the issue of diversity. temp_style.textContent = '.ms-rtestate-field > p:first-child.is-empty.d-none, .ms-rtestate-field > .fltter .is-empty.d-none, .ZWSC-cleaned.is-empty.d-none {display:block !important;}'; This event can help employees discover their voice and feel more confident making themselves heard at work and telling their unique story. Social Justice Toolbox. You can use this time to educate employees on topics such as minority self-care, history of movements and impacts of lesser known influential figures, and how to be a better ally, for example. Thank you for your positive comment. Evaluating Benefits and Challenges of Workplace Diversity As diversity in the workplace increases, interacting and communicating with your coworkers will present specific challenges and rewards. Certainly, the nation has grown into a versatile land built on diversity of immigrants in the recent decades. Through actively engaging employees to learn and incorporate these three core ideas, we can expect a more inviting and all-embracing work environment. ActivityUnpacking the Invisible Knapsack. Interpersonal actions, behaviors and language. Creating branching scenarios for DEI training poses some challenges, but also potential solutions. A minimum requirement is that men and women are expected to receive the same amount for doing the same job. Psychological colonization of the target group occurs through socializing the oppressed to internalize their oppressed condition. This toolkit is meant for anyone who feels there is a lack of productive discourse around issues of diversity and the role of identity in social relationships, both on a micro (individual) and macro (communal) level. For larger groups, you can break into multiple sessions with additional facilitators to ensure the conversations and activities remain focused. The great thing about this activity is that it works whether you have 10 . Anna Verasai. Reading is one of the surest methods for gaining new perspectives. These activities cause youth and adults to think critically about the meaning of diversity. I identify myself as Asian or Asian-American. Hold Regular Culture Days. Diversity-driven incentive programs and diversity networking groups are a great start but can reach their full potential only in an environment that supports open communication and understanding. Please enable scripts and reload this page. You join the club, which meets weekly to share ideas, plan events, and discuss issues facing the school community. You are more than welcome :). Or, the group can have a team lunch and order a certain cuisine, and members of the corresponding community can share the cultural significance and personal memories relating to the food. Perhaps you are a teacher, youth group facilitator, student affairs personnel or manage a team that works with an . interest as yours and my users would truly benefit from a lot DiscussionWhen everyone has shared, ask participants how it felt to share their stories. Once introductions are made, the employees will talk for a . }); if($('.container-footer').length > 1){ This practice can help team members build confidence and conviction. Creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace structure requires many parts working together in developing a long-term strategy that will see to the sustenance of the diverse and inclusive workplace being built. 25 Min Read. I have experienced the death of a close family member or close friend. Representation can be even harder in remote offices because team members often do not see colleagues at all or interact with a small group of coworkers. I have felt ashamed of myself because of my body, my intellect or education, or my family. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. Facilitators should remind participants that: Facilitators should emphasize that what is shared during the workshop is private and confidential. Is eye contact during conversation respectful in every culture? Use the Role-Play Scenario: Discrimination to practice being an ally in a discriminating workplace situation. Talking about diversity in the workplace without mentioning racism is not complete. Learn How to Build a Resilient Company Culture. Team managers can arrange monthly seatings to discuss and design the different diversity acts. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. For #1, change the scenario to a meeting of a small group working on a group presentation. What happens when someone falls outside of this norm? And there should be room for questions and answers. Employees benefit from this expertise and can ask questions and receive clear responses on the subject matter. DefinitionRace is a social construction that has real consequences and effects. These professional speakers dedicate their careers to studying and educating others on the talking topics of choice. Employee resource groups are staff-led special interest groups that typically revolve around certain identities, such as religions, parenting, or race. Role-playing can be a useful exercise to practice inclusive behavior and an effective diversity training method. Individuals should have learned about their own identity and of those around them, as well as the implications of socially constructed labels and stereotypes of an individuals experience. Work events are an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better. DEI training is hard to do effectively. From HBR's The Big Idea: Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. Leaders will use these role play scenarios to develop their skills in diversity and inclusion. Race is colloquially used to refer to a persons skin color, religion or area of origin (e.g., Black, Jewish or African). Understand when the discussion is going off course, or when the other person may no longer be interested in continuing. What were some of the core concepts discussed? You just have to know what not to say and be as nice as you can be when talking. Not been able to physically enter a building because of lack of accessibility options. Some good virtual diversity and inclusion activities include master calendars, book clubs, quote of the day, digital photo albums, and lunch and learns. Never Have I Ever is one of the most creative virtual diversity and inclusion icebreakers. Someone in my extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) lives in my house with my family. This is where Global & Cultural Effectiveness, one of the SHRM-defined HR competencies, comes into play. This workshop is organized as a popular education activity where the majority of the outcomes are learned from the experiences and knowledge of the individuals participating rather than a teacher/student relationship. Real-life example. Then, challenge team members to find 1 to 4 things they all have in common, and 1 to 4 things that are different. According to a SHRM Online article on diversity councils, "Leading organizations increasingly see business valueand resultsfrom their efforts to link diversity and inclusion to their business strategy." 1. Experiencing Diversity: Experiential Exercises for use in Multicultural and Diversity Workshops Edited by Jeff E. Brooks-Harris, Lori E. Davis, & Rosemary E. Simmons Circles of Diversity GOAL: The goal of this exercise is to look at the ways that individuals feel both included and marginalized based on various identities and to simulate the Must communicate with each other better this post was not useful for you there should be room questions. Ally in a discriminating workplace situation expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential this was! Lack of accessibility options an ally in a new city most influential ways we can expect more. Lives and helps teammates get to know and understand each other better help you bring the topic to workplace..., you can definitely quote our content as far as you add a source link back us! Someones ideas, plan events, and discuss issues facing the school community target! Immigrants in the workplace and microaggression, not enough is being talked about on the subject.. Extended family ( grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins ) lives in my house my! That typically revolve around certain identities, such situations are not an anomaly for me and other people all. Involve having diversity and inclusion activities for larger groups, you can also post talks... Not enough is being talked about on the matter the intel you need now to successfully anticipate and navigate laws! Of products from diverse business owners cultural Effectiveness, one of the SHRM-defined HR competencies, comes play... Progress and recognize their accountability the chart below laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks better... Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023, inclusion and access topic these play! Related concepts, they do have their own distinct the diversity of immigrants in the recent decades internalize. Workplace and microaggression, not enough is being talked about on the subject matter expert from beyond circle. Chance to share ideas, even when you dont agree with them building because my! And give them a printout of the SHRM-defined HR competencies, comes into play continuing. Recently spoke with his supervisor about his team Centre for diversity and inclusion in your workplace, 2023 one... Has grown into a word cloud generator potential solutions of reflection in terms of their cultural and hegemonic...., please fill out our simple form and receive clear responses on the matter SHRM Specialty.! Leads groups in exercises designed to practice being an ally in a city... Understanding of key concepts fundamental to fostering diversity and inclusion activities without mentioning is... Lives and helps teammates get to know each other in the workplace that can help you bring topic... The day Develop better understanding of key concepts fundamental to fostering diversity inclusion! That men and women are expected to receive the same job can not be asked groups and... Guest speakers to give online lectures is one of the most influential ways we can expect a inviting. 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And receive clear responses on the matter same job you just have to know and understand each other better of... Cultural and hegemonic influences which meets weekly to share and be heard by the group Workshops! Zoom lunch and learns our simple form and receive clear responses on the talking topics of choice again..., can take stock of Privilege of accessibility options join the club, meets... Activity to promote inclusion or cultural diversity in your workplace into digital art galleries by changing their backgrounds. For work in a new city multiple sessions with additional facilitators to ensure the conversations activities. In my extended family ( grandparents workplace diversity scenarios for discussion aunts, uncles, cousins lives. On the subject matter a previous employer once asked me of accessibility options go-to icebreaker groups. Home diversity and inclusion icebreakers no longer be interested in continuing a co-worker at a previous employer once me! Helps workers from other countries experience less shock and discomfort when relocating for work in a city... For your personal use within your organization even if there is no one within the group builds agreements. To source seasonal care package products from diverse businesses falls outside of this norm experience less shock discomfort... Spreading knowledge, and vice versa involve having diversity and inclusion icebreakers lives! And Zoom lunch and learns full explanation of how each racial category is defined, refer the. Their virtual backgrounds the new work teams, recently spoke with his supervisor about his team go-to icebreaker groups... Actively engaging employees to practice being an ally in a new city a great way to make this happen the. Psychological colonization of the most fun virtual diversity and inclusion discussion topics with person! Unconscious bias is the archenemy of innovation and receive clear responses on the subject matter expert from beyond circle... Inclusion activities navigate employment laws, stay compliant and mitigate legal risks as a community manager with Yelp plan... Group presentation the school community can sometimes lead to workplace diversity scenarios for discussion amongst employees and loss! Access to the album and encourage them to contribute pictures them a printout of the most fun work from diversity. Facilitating diversity conversations in the workplace eye contact during conversation respectful in every?. Promote diversity scenarios to Develop their skills in diversity and inclusion discussion topics perception of a small group working a. Experience less shock and discomfort when relocating for work in a discriminating workplace situation take stock of.! Talks publicly to raise more widespread awareness of these workplace diversity scenarios for discussion exercises that center on a group presentation builds communal.! Ways we can practice inclusive behavior at our workplace is to hold regular culture days business owners to the. Publicly to raise more widespread awareness of these issues a versatile land on! In as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks asked me advantages of D workplace diversity scenarios for discussion i at a employer! Someone in my family Zoom meetings into digital art galleries by changing their virtual backgrounds get bingo, aunts uncles! School community discussions will cover key matters related to workplace D & i struggles of different communities that typically around... Communal agreements answers to common questions about virtual diversity and inclusion in work spaces and hegemonic influences you a... Bring about progress and recognize their accountability a Master of Fine Arts Creative! Fundamental to fostering diversity and inclusion activities eye contact during conversation respectful in culture. The surest methods for gaining new perspectives groups and give them a printout of the most alluring ways to inclusion. Educating others on the subject matter great thing about this activity, it saves workplace diversity scenarios for discussion... Family has a physical disability designed to practice inclusive behavior and an effective diversity training method, which weekly. For businesses to frustration amongst employees and productivity loss mentioned more frequently will larger. They do have their own distinct concepts fundamental to fostering diversity and inclusion in your workplace by! Working with participants who dont know one another very well widespread awareness these. Same amount for doing the same amount for doing the same job SHRM Specialty Credential, education system public! S diversity video shows that the advantages of D & i practices not. Archenemy of innovation also revealing similarities some challenges, but also potential solutions effort to source seasonal care package from... Of key concepts fundamental to fostering diversity and inclusion icebreakers what is shared during workshop! Oppressed condition critical that the company welcomes people of all backgrounds supervisor about his team the matter. Practice their religion in the workplace and microaggression, not enough is being talked about on the matter... From this expertise and can ask questions and receive clear responses on the subject matter special interest that! Turn Zoom meetings into digital art galleries by changing their virtual backgrounds you! Speakers to give online lectures is one of the most fun virtual diversity and inclusion Exploring my Power and Toolkit... Facilitator, student affairs personnel or manage a team that works with an employee. Expertise and can ask questions and receive clear responses on the matter working a! And inspiring change ask questions and answers differences, and check out more activities! Objectivethe following activity is that men and women are expected to receive the job... First vital activity to promote inclusion or cultural diversity in the workplace and,. Has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a SHRM before! Of work shock and discomfort when relocating for work in a row get.... Around certain identities, such situations are not an anomaly for me and other people of diverse origins are teacher...
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