DEIB in the Workplace: The 'I' in the spotlight

We often talk about workplaces being "fit for purpose", but what does that actually mean?

For me, it's when workplaces are designed with DEIB in mind. Allowing every single person to feel they belong, can thrive, and contribute their best work - their purpose.

Whilst diversity helps us identify needs and equity levels the playing field, inclusion and belonging ensure that everyone feels welcome and accepted.

This ‘I’ and ‘B’ is pivotal for all when it comes to the physical workplace and is a driver for people to voluntarily want to come into the office over choosing to work from home.

Inclusion isn't optional when designing a workplace, it is a must-have.

It's a strategic imperative with clear benefits for colleagues and the organisation:

1. Enhanced productivity and innovation: Accommodated and understood employees can stop expending energy adapting to unsuitable spaces. They're free to focus on their work, collaborate more effectively, and bring diverse perspectives that fuel innovation.

2. Increased Engagement & Retention: People stay where they feel valued. Inclusive design shows that the organisation cares about individual needs, fostering loyalty and reducing costly turnover.

3. Wider Talent Pool Attraction: A reputation for inclusive environments attracts a broader range of talent, giving organisations a competitive edge.

4. Better Business Outcomes: Ultimately, an engaged, diverse, and well-supported workforce is a more successful one. Inclusive design creates the conditions for peak performance.

   
   

The key to unlocking these benefits lies in genuinely engaging with your people. Too often, design decisions are made from a top-down perspective, which can exclude the needs and requirements of the rest of the workforce. True inclusion requires a shift: from designing for our employees to designing with them.

Our DEIB working group ensures that these principles are embedded into the workplace strategy and change plans that we create hand-in-hand with our clients. It is not a separate initiative, but an underlying principle that makes the entire workplace change process more effective and sustainable.

Stay tuned for the next blog where we share how we embed inclusion into our projects which, in turn, fosters belonging in the workplace.