Master DEI Training: Empower Employees and Transform Your Workplace

Workplace diversity and a positive environment foster better employee relations and retention. The most common way companies try to implement a safe working environment is through promoting diverse workforce initiatives and company culture focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

DEI efforts include rules and accommodations for employees to allow them to flourish in their work environment. DEI is common in modern workplaces, but implementing rules and keeping employees aligned with your company’s DEI goals requires constant effort and training. This article will go over ways HR professionals can implement DEI training practices for their employees, so you can foster a safe and inclusive work environment.

Although they sound similar, DEI and D&I are not the same. DEI stands for ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’. This is different from D&I – simply ‘Diversity and Inclusion’. D&I in the workplace involves respecting and accepting everyone’s unique personal differences through promoting diversity and inclusion. Equity involves providing provisions for people who need them to succeed in the workplace and to make sure nobody is disadvantaged based on personal attributes such as ability, age, or gender. Equity is an incredibly important part of creating a safe and positive environment – as it allows for every employee to flourish, regardless of their unique personal differences. Effective inclusion strategies are essential in fostering a strong DEI culture within organizations.

DEI training involves educating employees on DEI best practices, based on these three distinct aspects:

An individual’s unique personal differences are often called protected characteristics in employment law. A person's protected characteristics include any personal attributes which cannot be changed or discriminated against, such as: 

• Age and Gender
• Relationship status or pregnancy
• Race, religion, or culture 
• Sexual orientation
• Physical disability or mental illness

Therefore, DEI training involves implementing teaching and exercises to educate employees on appropriate and inappropriate workplace conduct. Training helps create an environment where diversity is valued, and it also teaches employees about inclusivity. It allows companies to set and communicate rules and standards for workplace behavior.

Many modern workplaces implement DEI training for their employees as a way to set expectations for employee behavior across the entire organization. DEI principles are often part of a company’s anti-discrimination policy and are often mentioned during interviews and job postings. DEI principles are not going to be adhered to without adequate DEI training. Many people are aware of DEI as a concept but do not understand ways to implement DEI principles in the workplace. Effective training aims to create an inclusive environment by educating employees on practical ways to apply these principles.

Aside from adhering to employment and anti-discrimination laws, implementing DEI training is useful for many reasons: 

Promote Diversity

A company that implements diversity training and upholds a standard of respect can utilize it to further promote diversity among diverse groups. Promoting diversity in the workplace can allow for better mutual understanding between employees with diverse perspectives. Diversity is an asset to a workplace; encouraging employees to respect and embrace it allows for better collaboration.

Foster Inclusivity 

Making inclusivity the norm in your workplace can prevent tension, conflict, and bullying. Inclusive workplaces during hiring and in the workplace make it known to employees that inclusivity is an expected behavior. Inclusion efforts are key to making sure everyone feels as though they are a valued member of their team and encourage employees to proactively participate. Inclusive communication further ensures that all voices are heard and respected.

Address Bias and Discrimination

Everyone has natural biases; however, hateful, discriminatory biases can be prevented and unlearned. Unconscious biases often influence how we interact and perceive others, potentially leading to conflicts. Unconscious bias training can help employees reflect on any discriminatory or stereotypical opinions they might possess and use tools in DEI training exercises to correct them. By challenging biases and mitigating unconscious bias, employees can foster a more inclusive and respectful workplace.

Improve Workplace Culture

Using cultural sensitivity training as part of DEI exercises can help employees become closer and foster better relationships. DEI training is a unique opportunity for employees to share more about their culture, background, and struggles they experience because of discrimination. It can build empathy across the workplace and improve overall workplace culture. Inclusivity can also create a more inclusive culture and improve workplace interactions and employee relationships, as all employees feel as though they are valued members of the company. Developing cultural competency is essential for fostering understanding and respect among diverse teams.

Attract and Retain Talent

DEI affects workplace culture, and many applicants prioritize a fulfilling and strong work culture when applying for jobs. Did you know that diversity in the workplace is significantly considered by 76% of employees during their job hunt? The statistics don’t lie – a workplace known to be safe and respectful is likely to encourage even more applicants from diverse backgrounds. Likewise, DEI training can prevent discrimination, harassment, and bullying within the workplace, fostering a positive environment and improving employee retention.

Enhance Performance

DEI training can improve interpersonal relationships, which will enhance collaboration, teamwork, and overall performance. By encouraging an open and respectful environment, any conflict can be easily overcome, improving productivity. Allowing employees to embrace their diversity will lead to more innovation and creativity, as they feel comfortable sharing and discussing everyone’s unique insights. This training also helps employees navigate difficult conversations and fosters a mindset shift towards greater inclusion.

DEI training programs vary based on the company. Knowing what challenges your company faces, as well as ways to implement effective training are key to a successful DEI training program. DEI training programs can be created to suit your own team’s uniqueness. 

A DEI training program can be implemented with the following steps: 

1. Assess Business Needs

Assess your company’s current team, environment, and collaborative efforts. Consult with ERGs or HR to gain insight into ways your company can improve its DEI practices and use it to develop your effective DEI training program. You can use the following questions to help you reflect on where DEI needs to be implemented or improved:

Brainstorm with business leaders and HR professionals to see if they can assist you in coming up with a list of needs or areas for improvement through DEI training. Come up with an action plan for your DEI training and invite people from all departments to contribute their ideas as well.

2. Define Clear Goals

DEI training should be targeted to your own company’s goals and needs. Goals should be based on your workplace’s current needs for improvement, but also should work towards larger goals for the future. Some goals that your company could choose for DEI training include: 

By making and setting clear goals, you can directly assess the effectiveness of your workplace’s DEI program. You can make these goals into statements for employees to reference after completing awareness training, or you can consider adding them to your company’s DEI or anti-discrimination policy.

3. Tailored DEI Training 

Setting clear goals also means you can tailor your DEI training program to achieve them. DEI training should be structured so that the messages and expectations you set for your employees are clearly understood. Additionally, you can personalize your DEI training to suit your business's unique challenges, whether it is with the team, with clients, or with customers. Some common topics you can include in your tailored DEI training program include:

Tailoring DEI training means you will achieve results that improve employee rapport and business goals. Don’t go and copy a generic DEI training program, as your employees will not relate to it and won’t be learning skills needed for your company's DEI goals. You can also survey your employees before doing DEI training to see if any issues should be addressed in DEI training.

4. Incorporate Interactive and Engaging Activities

To ensure that employees are actively listening and learning through DEI training, use interactive activities. This way, they are learning and implementing skills at the same time, so they can effectively use their DEI skills in the workplace and improve employee engagement. Some ways you can foster an interactive environment for DEI training programs include:

5. Offer Support and Resources

After completing DEI training for your employees, make sure there is a way they can gain more resources or advice should they require it. DEI training is necessary, but an ongoing means of support from the company can make sure that DEI expectations are upheld. Some resources you can include are:

Make DEI resources engaging and accessible, and encourage team members to constantly reflect on their own efforts to implement DEI. Also, provide a support system for employees who are affected by discrimination, and consider appropriate punishment for perpetrators. 

6. Evaluate and Iterate

Based on the established goals for DEI, use methods for gathering opinions and feedback about DEI training practices. You can set more clear, objective goals for your company to evaluate the effectiveness of their DEI training program, such as a reduction in complaints or an improvement in productivity. 

Gather feedback from employees using a survey about their experiences with DEI as well as their opinions on any DEI training they did. You can use this feedback to improve your DEI training program and tailor it even more to your employee’s needs. Analyze any data collected and use it to evaluate current DEI training practices and standards. 

7. Foster Accountability and Transparency

To ensure that DEI standards are upheld by all employees, you should foster accountability in your workplace. By fostering accountability, DEI will be taken seriously by all employees. Some ways you can foster this include:

8. Continuously Learn and Adapt 

Companies should continuously be learning and adapting their DEI principles and practices to reflect the current social landscape and be kept informed on new best practices for DEI. Ways you can implement constant learning of DEI for your training include: 

DEI has to be a process of continuous learning and improvement. Having a diverse team will always bring challenges, but implementing a well-rounded DEI training program can prevent issues and conflicts between teams. 

To uphold your company’s DEI principles, DEI training programs need to be well thought-out and reflect your workplace's unique needs. All employees should feel included in their inclusive workplace culture, despite each individual's differences; building understanding between employees and fostering a respectful environment can achieve this. By first assessing your own workplace's unique challenges, you can form a DEI training plan, and implement it with the assistance of ERGs and leaders. DEI training programs need to be implemented with respect and tact, to foster an environment for employees to share personal experiences at their own pace.

By building rapport and respect, employee relations will improve, leading to better collaboration, innovation, and success, and reducing conflicts in the workplace. Evaluate your DEI training program and adjust it according to company needs, industry trends, and employment laws. Diversity initiatives play a crucial role in creating inclusive teams that foster innovation. We encourage you to keep learning about DEI to become a well-rounded DEI trainer; you can check out Cake for more articles relating to DEI training, interview questions, and more!

--- Originally Written by Bronte McNamara ---