Diversifying Group

💚 Today is World Mental Health Day, and it's a great reminder of how important mental well-being is, especially in the workplace. 🧠 While mental health affects everyone, we know, given the work we do, that underrepresented groups can face extra challenges, such as: 😡Microaggressions or the pressure to code-switch for people of colour. 🧩 Managing sensory overload or lack of understanding for neurodiverse people. 🏳️🌈 The emotional toll of discrimination or feeling the need to stay closeted for LGBTQIA+ colleagues. At Diversifying Group, we know that an inclusive workplace means creating a space where everyone feels supported - mentally and emotionally. So, how can we create a mentally healthy workplace? Here are a few simple ideas: 🌱 Encourage open conversations around mental health, without any stigma. 🤝 Make resources available, such as access to mental health services/apps or offering mental health ‘reset’ days. 🌍 Acknowledge unique challenges faced by different groups and create a culture of genuine inclusion. 💬 Managers, lead by example - be open about your own mental health and encourage others to do the same. #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters #WorkplaceWellbeing #InclusiveWorkplaces #DiversityAndInclusion #Neurodiversity #LGBTQInclusion #MentalHealthAwareness

🌟 Dyslexia Awareness Week: Is your workplace dyslexia-friendly? 🌟 This Dyslexia Awareness Week, we’re looking at how we can create more inclusive workplaces for colleagues with dyslexia. WHAT IS DYSLEXIA? 🧠 Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects how individuals read and process information. Importantly, it doesn’t reflect on a person's intelligence. Many dyslexic individuals are incredibly creative and innovative thinkers. HOW DOES DYSLEXIA SHOW UP AT WORK? ⌨️ For those with dyslexia, tasks like reading, writing, or processing information can present challenges. However, with the right support, they can contribute brilliant ideas and solutions that might otherwise be missed. WHY A DYSLEXIA-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE MATTERS: ❤️ Creating a supportive workplace helps dyslexic colleagues feel valued. When we remove barriers, we allow everyone to perform at their best. Some easy adjustments you can make: 🪑 Flexible workspaces and hours. 🤫 Quiet areas for focused work. 🤝 Buddy or mentoring systems. 🎧 Noise-cancelling headphones. 💻 Assistive technology like speech-to-text tools. 📝 Use clear fonts and layouts that are easy to read. ⏳ Give extra time for reading or writing tasks. 🎙️ Offer instructions verbally, when possible. Remember, every person with dyslexia has unique needs, so be sure to ask what support they prefer. #DyslexiaAwarenessWeek #Inclusion #Diversity #SupportDyslexia #WorkplaceWellbeing

Diversity dates to be aware of this month! ✅🗓️ Don’t let these important cultural events pass you by this October... 📌 October 1st - International Day for Older Persons - Recognising the contributions of older individuals and highlighting issues affecting them. 📌 October 1st-31st - Black History Month - A month of opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of Black heritage and culture. This year's theme is 'Reclaiming Narratives' with a focus on taking ownership of the stories that define Black culture, contributions, and identity. 📌 October 7th-13th - Dyslexia Awareness Week - Helping to achieve a dyslexia friendly society, raising awareness of dyslexia and challenging common misconceptions. 📌 October 10th - World Mental Health Day - Raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health. This year’s theme is 'Workplace Mental Health' with a focus on wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities. 📌 October 10th - International Pronouns Day - Helping to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. 📌 October 16th - Intersex Awareness Day - Highlighting human rights issues faced by intersex people. Download our Diversity Calendar in full: https://lnkd.in/eeR3zkC9

Europeans of colour have been affected by surges of xenophobia. Find out why... 📰 🌍

Have you fallen into the trap of tick-box D&I training? 🪤 ❌ So much of the training and workshops that we see today are more focused on being able to SAY you’re doing something, with little impact on day-to-day behaviours. To drive meaningful change, training needs to be relevant, practical, and ongoing. OUR SOLUTION: ✅ Tailor training to your workplace with scenario-based sessions that address real challenges employees might face. ✅ Build D&I into regular learning and development through bite-sized sessions, lunch-and-learns, and practical workshops so it’s not a one-off. ✅ Use interactive methods like role-playing, discussions, and case studies to make the learning engaging and relevant. ✅ Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of training by gathering employee feedback and assessing changes in workplace culture. #NationalInclusionWeek #DiversityTraining

Sure, you have impressive-sounding initiatives…but do you have accountability? 🫵 ❌ Without accountability, even the best D&I initiatives can lose momentum. We so often see actions and promises stall because there’s no clear follow-up or ownership. OUR SOLUTION: ✅ Set clear, measurable D&I goals tied to broader business objectives, and track them regularly. ✅ Hold senior leaders accountable by linking D&I outcomes to performance reviews. ✅ Make inclusion everyone’s responsibility - embed D&I objectives into team and individual performance goals. ✅ Share progress and celebrate success stories openly to keep everyone engaged and motivated. #NationalInclusionWeek #TickBox #DiversityTargets

Unconscious bias is STILL the one of the biggest culprits in toxic workplaces 😷 ❌ Unconscious bias can sneak into recruitment and progression decisions, often leading to favouritism towards certain groups and holding others back, especially those from minority backgrounds. OUR SOLUTION: ✅ Train hiring managers and decision-makers with workshops focused on recognising and overcoming bias at every stage. ✅ Implement structured interviews with predefined, objective criteria that align with job competencies rather than relying on “gut feeling.” ✅ Monitor recruitment and promotion data to spot patterns that may indicate bias and adjust accordingly. ✅ Include diverse panels in interviews to ensure fairer assessments and reduce individual biases. #NationalInclusionWeek #UnconsciousBias #WorkplaceInclusion

“It’s just a joke! It’s not that deep…” Have you heard this before? 🙄 Microaggressions - those offhand comments or subtle behaviours - can make people feel excluded, disrespected, or singled out. Over time, they can lead to serious disengagement, especially for people from minority backgrounds. ❌ In many organisations we work with, it’s obvious that there is not one single thing to fix, but the whole culture which allows this kind of behaviour to go unchecked. OUR SOLUTION: ✅ Run training sessions on recognising and addressing microaggressions, with a focus on empathy and real-life scenarios. ✅ Create safe channels for employees to anonymously report issues and share their experiences. ✅ Develop a culture, where calling out microaggressions is supported and encouraged in real-time – active bystanders play a big role here! ✅ Create an inclusive language guide with input from employee resource groups to help people avoid phrases that could be hurtful or alienating. #Microaggressions #MicroaggressionsAtWork #ToxicWorkplaces #NationalInclusionWeek

We’re celebrating National Inclusion Week by exposing the biggest issues we see in organisations today AND the solutions we recommend. FIRST UP: WHERE’S THE DIVERSITY AT THE TOP? 👨💼🤔 ❌ In many organisations, there are plenty of women and minorities lower down but they disappear when we look at more senior positions. This is a big roadblock as it means key decision-making lacks diverse perspectives. OUR SOLUTION: ✅ Set up mentorship and sponsorship programmes focused on supporting underrepresented talent into leadership roles. ✅ Introduce reverse mentoring so senior leaders can gain insights from employees with different lived experiences. ✅ Partner with organisations that specialise in attracting diverse talent. ✅ Record AND publish diversity data on leadership and set clear targets for improvement. #NationalInclusionWeek #DiversityInLeadership

Calls for better paternity leave in the UK have amplified this week with supporters asking for more affordable paternity leave and a substantial time increase that will support equality among new parents. 📰 Read more on this story in this week's newsletter...