DEI isn’t just a principle or a target to integrate into recruitment and other HR processes - it’s a mindset and way of life.

It’s about believing that people shouldn’t face difficulties in their day-to-day simply because of an aspect of their identity.

It’s about understanding the systemic discrimination that the majority of people face, and the consequences that continue to this day. The different levels and layers of an individual’s experiences that come from intersectionality tie into this as well.

When it comes to a workplace, it’s about making employees feel safe and welcome to be themselves, and where barriers are eliminated or mitigated for everyone to participate in work activities. This creates an environment where people feel comfortable to share ideas, and it’s when ideas are shared from diverse perspectives that:

• employees have a more fulfilling work experience (and become more productive)

• a company’s profit increases from trying different strategies than their competitors

• when these workplace standards spread across organizations, more of society at large becomes equitable, and

• day-to-day lives outside of work become more enjoyable for everyone