5 Inspiring Inclusive Company Cultures to Learn From For 2023

Despite being universal and elevated, some values still don’t get as much attention and effective initiatives as they should. The pandemic forced us to confront these issues, revealing inequalities, bias, and exclusionary policies.

The past two years didn’t affect everyone equally. But that should be no surprise since disparities were present long before the COVID-19 crisis happened.

Lockdowns, layoffs, and healthcare issues only exacerbated the existing challenges, leaving us no room to close our eyes and ignore them. Moreover, marginalized groups were more likely to work in essential job roles during the pandemic, increasing their exposure to the virus and the odds of getting infected. They also face more barriers to accessing healthcare; even when they fall ill, getting adequate help is challenging.

Many experienced increased discrimination in the work environment or lacked the necessary support from their employers and coworkers. As a result, most business leaders promised to make a change and put inclusion at the forefront of their companies.

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How Much Effort Do Companies Put into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

Nearly every large corporation has made admiring promises since 2020. They set high expectations, assuring their customers and employees things will change and inclusion would become an inseparable part of their cultures.

Even though these words sounded comforting and reassuring, many companies failed to turn them into long-lasting actions. According to WeForum, workplaces are not becoming significantly more diverse than before the pandemic.

Instead, DE&I efforts are stalling on the ground while remaining large in theory. Moreover, companies struggle with execution and ingraining these values into the company culture, leading to poor results.

While it’s easy to verbally proclaim a commitment to inclusion, making it a business priority is another story. According to an SHRM article, 80 percent of companies are going through the motions and not holding themselves accountable. Although most business leaders understand DE&I isn’t about innovation but prioritizing diverse qualities and workforce, they are still not progressing fast enough.

Josh Bersin’s 2022 report has shown that things are direr than one might assume. — Only 12 percent of companies among the report’s respondents hold their managers accountable for recruiting diverse candidates.

The report also found that 75 percent of companies don’t include DE&I in the company’s leadership development, and 76 percent have no diversity or inclusion objectives. However, not all hope is lost, as businesses still cultivate an inclusive company culture and have good DE&I strategies.

Sadly, these companies come to the spotlight much less than those failing their diversity efforts. But they need more exposure to encourage job seekers and employees and let them know there are always workplaces that understand the importance of diverse values.

Here are examples of such companies and what they’re doing right.

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5 Inspiring Organizations that Nurture an Inclusive Company Culture

1. American Express — Differences Shape the World

The American multinational corporation, American Express (AMEX), specializes in payment card services and has a stellar philosophy — inclusive workplaces always start from the top. They are committed to ensuring their employees are as diverse as their communities and customers.

This corporation values differences and believes unique experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds are vital to its success. Moreover, they foster inclusive company culture and an environment that nurtures everyone’s engagement.

That means American Express gives voice to all its employees and helps them thrive in the workplace. Because of that, they have mandatory DE&I training for their leaders, starting from VP positions.

These professionals are responsible for fostering inclusion and shaping inclusive values. For instance, they organize in small groups and brainstorm novel ways to improve DE&I.

But HR teams also regularly measure the impact of the American Express DE&I programs by encouraging employees to participate in surveys and organizing focus groups. That way, they get more profound insights into workers’ sentiments and understand whether diversity initiatives are efficient.

AMEX also invests in underrepresented talent, helps the advancement of women in the workplace, supports the LGBTQ+ community, and offers mentorship to their high-performing, multicultural colleagues. These programs have helped instill inclusion and diversity into the company culture, ensuring their promises always go beyond verbal commitment.

2. Autodesk — Building a Diverse Workforce and a Culture of Belonging

Autodesk is an American multinational software corporation and a global leader in design and technology. They’re dedicated to DE&I initiatives and nurturing a work environment where more people get a chance to imagine, design, and create a better world.

This corporation believes that diversity is crucial in driving creativity, unique ideas, and business growth. As a result, they foster inclusive company culture and welcome employees and customers from all walks of life.

Moreover, Autodesk has inclusive meeting tactics and ensures every worker feels included. They do their best to provide their remote employees with the same engagement and work experience and share meeting materials and questions before the meeting starts.

Teleworkers also enjoy rotational working hours, providing flexibility to those working in different time zones. Autodesk acknowledges when someone has stellar ideas and always pays tribute to those who were the original creators.

But they also have a unique practice — Autodesk discourages workers from interrupting their coworkers and ensures everyone gets equal time to speak in the meetings.

Besides, Autodesk collaborates with international organizations to support young talent, especially those from vulnerable groups. Their company culture is based on belonging and inclusion, as they want everyone to feel welcome and happy to come to work.

Click here to find out how Manatal’s career page can help you promote your inclusive culture within a few clicks.

*First published on Manatal.com.

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Manatal is an end-to-end recruitment and onboarding SaaS platform trusted by thousands of brands in over 135 countries worldwide. It is an AI-powered Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool that allows companies to hire faster, better and save costs.