How diverse is your workplace? And how inclusive is it? While many organizations may feel prepared to answer the first question, the second often causes a bit of confusion. Isn’t it just the same question rephrased?
Rita Mitjans, ADP’s chief diversity and social responsibility officer, explains.
Diversity is the “what”; inclusion is the “how”. Diversity focuses on the makeup of your workforce—demographics such as gender, race/ethnicity, age, etc.—and inclusion is a measure of culture that enables diversity to thrive. People sometimes use these terms interchangeably, but they are quite distinctly different.
So, why is it important to focus on both diversity and inclusion? Again, Rita Mitjans:
Great talent is always in demand, and organizations are in competition for top talent. Candidates evaluating whether to join an organization want to see others who look like them at the top, and work in a culture that values different perspectives and supports authentic, respectful behaviors.
Diversity in the workplace is a hot topic right now in Japan, given the population decline. An obvious solution to the shrinking labor pool is to bring in more foreign workers and women. The concept of inclusion as distinct from diversity is an important one to consider as Japan's employers look to build their employee base.