Is DEI a priority in a pandemic?

At a recent On the Dot Diversity webinar, some leaders in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) space lended their perspective on the importance of DEI during the pandemic or any other crisis a business may be experiencing.

Here are my comments below:

“I think one of the thoughts I had, I wanted to share was that, you know, if for some reason a business, small or large, finds a rationale for not including DEI in their work, it was never really a priority in the first place.

And so this is an opportunity during a crisis like this pandemic to demonstrate to everyone to your organization THIS (diversity, equity, and inclusion) IS A PRIORITY!

You should be prioritizing it (DEI) and should be communicating to everyone that this isn’t going away because we’re having a pandemic.

The honest fear is that this (DEI work) is going to go away and it is going to be temporary (especially during insurmountable challenges).

And, this is the perfect time to say no, “This is a priority.”

Let’s make this a priority by not just our words, but by our actions.

How DEI work a priority at your business? If not, how might you make it one? Let me know your comments below.