| | JUNE - 2023MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM8In MyOpinionAs a woman from the Caribbean who immigrated to America more than 30 years ago, I understand firsthand how crucial it is for companies to celebrate diversity within their organizations. Early in my professional life, I did everything in my power to assimilate ­ I flat ironed my hair, toned down my native accent, and tried to look and act like those around me in order to blend in. Now, I'm at a point in my life where I'm more confident about being authentically "me," and I work for a fantastic company that puts great effort towards cultivating a genuinely equitable, inclusive and diverse workforce. As thankful as I am to be where I am today, I recognize that there is still quite a bit of work to be done. Putting Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) at the forefront of hiring is not only socially imperative, but it's vital to an organization's development. Some might consider diversity a "hot topic." But facilitating ongoing conversations about race, gender, ethnicity, and other human characteristics that define us and influence our actions allows businesses to take real action that creates a culture of safety where differences and perspectives are celebrated.D&I at Work and Where to StartTackling a delicate and nuanced topic like diversity can be overwhelming for a company that has been operating the same way for decades. Employers are also often afraid of doing and saying the wrong thing, but if you are open to improvement and vulnerable about what you don't know, you can create a safe space for you and your employees to learn with and from one another. We all hold social stereotypes about certain groups ­ whether consciously or not ­ that impact how we think about and interact with them. By knowing what unconscious biases are and identifying which are most likely to impact your business, you're on the right track to creating a more inclusive culture.Establishing an official committee or council focused specifically on diversity is another fantastic tactic to consider. At Spherion, I lead an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council that is made up of our local office employees, franchise owners and other corporate team members. The council gives us an official setting with which to implement a deliberate approach to address D&I-related topics and create concrete plans for the future. An By Kathy George, Executive Vice President of Franchise Development and Growth, Spherion Staffing and RecruitingTHE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE
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