Inclusive Environments

Question 1

What are inclusive environments?

Answer 1

• A culturally inclusive environment requires mutual respect, effective relationships, clear communication, understanding of expectations and critical self-reflection.
• Within an inclusive environment, people of all cultural orientations can freely express who they are, their own opinions and points of view.

Question 2

Why are inclusive environments important?

Answer 2

• According to Deloitte’s article on diversity and inclusion, it states, “A growing body of research indicates that diverse and inclusive teams outperform their peers. Companies with inclusive talent practices in hiring, promotion, development, leadership, and team management generate up to 30 percent higher revenue per employee and greater profitability than their competitors’’.

Question 3

What legislation or regulations relate to inclusive environments?

Answer 3

• The main legislation within the UK that applies to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are the Equality Act 2010 and The Human Rights Act 1998.

Question 4

Please explain your understanding of inclusion within the workplace?

Answer 4

• Inclusion within the workplace is creating an environment and culture where all company employees feel like they belong in the organisation.
• This results in every employee being comfortable to voice their opinions and that no one person feels excluded on the basis of their identity.

Question 5

What is meant by the term unconscious bias?

Answer 5

• Unconscious bias refers to the associations and assumptions that a person may have about someone solely because of their race, gender or disability.
• These judgements are made without conscious awareness.
• These automatic assumptions and stereotypes are a major contributor to a lack of workplace diversity.