Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)

Diversity

Equity

Inclusion

Accessibility

What is the value of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in organizations?

DEIA are interrelated principles that collectively foster a more equitable and inclusive society. Each aspect plays a crucial role in advancing fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background, identity, or characteristics. DEIA is core for people and organizations to grow and thrive.

 

EPIC - HC collaborates with employers and organizations to offer DEIA training, creates tools and best practices that foster inclusive workplaces and communities. Our goal is to help everyone experience a sense of belonging, feel welcome, and be their authentic selves.

 

Diversity encompasses the broad spectrum of human differences, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, physical and cognitive abilities, religion, and beyond. Diversity is about recognizing and respecting the range and value of unique attributes, experiences, and perspectives that each person brings to the table. Embracing diversity and valuing differences can lead to more dynamic, innovative, and effective organizations capable of thriving in an increasingly globalized world.

Why Embrace Diversity?

Diversity

  • Diversity encompasses the broad spectrum of human differences, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, physical and cognitive abilities, religion, and beyond.

 

  • Diversity is about recognizing and respecting the range and value of unique attributes, experiences, and perspectives that each person brings to the table.

 

  • Embracing diversity and valuing differences can lead to more dynamic, innovative, and effective organizations capable of thriving in an increasingly globalized world.

What does Equity in Organizations mean?

Equity

  • Equity represents a condition where everyone receives fair, inclusive, and respectful treatment.

 

  • Equity aims to ensure fairness and justice by removing systemic barriers and providing the necessary resources and opportunities for everyone to succeed.

 

  • It acknowledges that individuals have diverse needs that necessitate different forms of support to attain genuine equality.

 

  • An equitable and inclusive workplace proactively eliminates barriers, enables individuals to express their authentic selves, experience a sense of belonging, and gain equal access to opportunities.

Why foster Inclusion in Organizations?

Inclusion

  • Inclusion is about cultivating an environment that embraces and respects everyone, ensuring each person feels seen, heard, valued, and welcomed.

 

  • It aims to nurture a sense of belonging and encourages the active engagement and meaningful participation of every person. It respects and embraces the diverse talents, beliefs, backgrounds, identities, and lifestyles of its members.

 

  • When belonging is experienced, there is a feeling of being part of a group, fostering meaningful connections with others.

 

  • The thoughts, ideas, and perspectives of everyone matter. This empowers team members to unlock their creativity and generate innovative solutions to complex challenges.

 

  • Diverse and inclusive teams drive innovation, as each member brings unique perspectives and a wide array of ideas to the table.

Does your organization incorporate Accessibility?

Accessibility

  • Accessibility involves designing and providing equal opportunities and access to resources, services, and environments for people of diverse backgrounds, abilities, and needs.

 

  • It aims to eliminate barriers so that everyone can access education, employment, transportation, communication, information, technology, and physical spaces.

 

  • Accessibility goes beyond mere compliance, reflecting how organizations accommodate and embrace the unique attributes that each individual brings.

How does DEIA benefit Employers and Organizations?

Diversity

Equity

Inclusion

Accessibility

The future of DEIA focuses on putting people first.

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) training offers a multitude of benefits to organizations and their employees. These benefits can be broadly categorized into improving organizational culture, enhancing employee performance, and positively impact the broader community.

Organizational Benefits

  • Enhanced Innovation and Creativity: Diverse teams bring varied perspectives, leading to more innovative solutions and creative problem-solving.
  • Improved Decision-Making: Inclusive environments foster diverse viewpoints, which can lead to better decision-making and more effective strategies.
  • Greater Employee Retention and Satisfaction: When employees feel valued and included, job satisfaction and loyalty increase, leading to lower turnover rates.
  • Enhanced Reputation: Organizations that prioritize DEIA are often viewed more favorably by customers, partners, and potential employees, enhancing their brand reputation.
  • Compliance and Risk Management: DEIA training helps organizations comply with legal and regulatory requirements, reducing the risk of discrimination lawsuits and other legal issues.

Employee Benefits

Increased Engagement and Productivity

Employees who feel included and respected are more likely to be engaged and productive at work.

Professional Development

DEIA training can help employees develop cultural competence, empathy, and communication skills, which are valuable in both personal and professional contexts.

Improved Collaboration & Teamwork

Training promotes understanding and respect among colleagues from diverse backgrounds, leading to better teamwork and collaboration.

Personal Growth

Exposure to diverse perspectives can enrich employees' personal lives, making them more open-minded and empathetic.

Community and Societal Benefits

Promoting Social Justice

By fostering equitable and inclusive workplaces, organizations can contribute to broader social justice goals and reduce societal inequalities.

Economic Benefits

Inclusive organizations can attract a diverse customer base and better serve their communities, driving economic growth.

Creating Role Models

Organizations that successfully implement DEIA initiatives can serve as role models, encouraging other businesses and institutions to follow suit.

Outcomes of DEIA Training

Bias Reduction

Training can help employees recognize and mitigate unconscious biases, leading to fairer treatment of all employees.

Conflict Resolution

DEIA training can equip employees with the skills to handle and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner.

Better Understanding of Diversity Dimensions

Employees can gain a deeper understanding of various dimensions of diversity, including race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and more.

Improved Accessibility

Training on accessibility can ensure that workplaces are designed to accommodate all employees.

Long-Term Impact

Sustainable Change

Continuous DEIA training fosters a culture of inclusion that can sustain long-term organizational change.

Leadership Development

Leaders trained in DEIA principles are better equipped to manage diverse teams and drive inclusive practices throughout the organization.

DEIA Statistics

Diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets. (HBR)

Statistics highlight that companies with diverse and inclusive workplaces achieve superior outcomes across various metrics, including enhanced employee engagement and improved financial performance.

For instance, companies identified as more diverse and inclusive are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors and are 70% more likely to capture new markets.

Additionally, diverse teams are 87% better at making decisions, and those with diverse management teams see a 19% higher revenue (InStride, 2023) (McKinsey & Company).

Research also shows that inclusive companies are 1.7 times more likely to be innovative and generate 2.3 times more cash flow per employee.

Furthermore, millennials are 83% more likely to be engaged at work in inclusive companies (DOIT, 2024).

These findings underscore the significant advantages of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of creating environments where all employees feel valued and can contribute their unique perspectives.

DEIA Training

Strengthen your team's ability to create inclusive workplaces and communities by providing them with essential tools, resources, and best DEIA practices. Ensure every individual feels welcomed, a genuine sense of belonging, is valued, be seen and seen, and can fully express their authentic selves.

Enroll in our Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility (DEIA) training program to elevate workplace inclusivity.

DEIA Training Topics Include

  • What is Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)?
  • The Impact of DEIA in organizations
  • The Value of DEIA Statements
  • Tips to create Psychological Safety
  • What is Unconscious Bias?
  • Managing Microagressions
  • Inclusive Behaviours
  • Inclusive Hiring Practices
  • Inclusive Language
  • Intercultural Communication
  • How to Create Inclusive Guidelines of Engagement?
  • Benefits of a DEIA Committee
  • Introduction to 2SLGBTQIA+

Contact Us

Nerissa Knapp, MBA (She/Her)

DEIA Specialist

(437) 328 6265

Nknapp@achev.ca

Employers and Organizations:

Would you like to participate in our Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Accessibility (DEIA) training program to enhance Workplace Inclusivity?

 

Send an email below with our form to get started.

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    Nerissa Knapp, MBA (She/Her)

    DEIA Specialist

    As a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Assessor and Trainer, Nerissa Knapp works with people from all organizational levels, including C-Suite, leadership and management teams, frontline employees etc. She cultivates a DEIA infrastructure to equip organizations with tools to cultivate a more inclusive workplace to create a community of belonging and strengthen access to employment and retention for employees. Nerissa helps organizations to create DEIA action plans by performing workplace climate assessments to identify DEIA gaps and opportunities, develops and measures performance metrics, creates DEIA curriculum, and delivers DEIA trainings to help prioritize and bridge DEIA gaps. She has successfully implemented customized DEIA interventions to promote inclusion and best DEIA practices for various organizations.  She is an active member of Achēv’s DEIA committee, and the Inclusion sub-committee to help cultivate inclusion strategies for the organization.

     

    Nerissa possesses over 15 years of leadership in business communications and team development. She designs and delivers customized programs for organizations to maximize leadership and team effectiveness to foster employee inclusivity and engagement. Nerissa has experience working in the private and public sectors, including universities and other educational institutions, government municipalities, airports, Ontario and Superior Courts, the Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) and School Boards.

     

    Nerissa was humbled to be selected as professor/instructor of the year at McMaster University (MCE) in the Business Administration and Marketing programs, where she teaches Business Communications, Leadership and Supervision, and Marketing. Nerissa has also served McMaster University (MCE) and other academic institutions as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various course development projects that includes developing curriculum, course plans, course learning objectives, module learning objectives, interactive and engaging course content, course evaluations and rubrics.

     

    Nerissa holds an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA), a BA in Marketing and Psychology, advanced certification and training in: DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility), Conflict Management and Mediation, Instructing Adults, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness.

    Download our flyer here