Inclusion Solutions

Bursting Through Knowledge and Power

This week, the nation decided to disturb inclusion and make it debatable again. Here are just some of the headlines in my news feed.

Amazon Cuts Mentions of DEI and LGBTQ Rights from Public Policies

From Walmart to Toyota: Major Companies Rolling Back DEI Policies

Costco is pushing back — hard — against the anti-DEI movement

Meta Joins Companies Abandoning DEI Commitments

I’ve read several articles and researched what top DEI professionals are saying. I’m not shocked that my investigation has left me with more questions than answers, but I was slightly surprised that no one seems to be asking the big questions, looking at it objectively, or asking the people impacted what they think.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has a rich and important history in the workplace and our institutions dating back to the 1960s civil rights movement. In the modern era, it was re-ignited in the 2000’s fueled by many incidents including the murder of George Floyd.

I am personally aware the United States has a disturbing history of mistreating anyone who is not white, male, and heterosexual. I am not trying to discount or dismiss decades of hard work or those who have fought with their hearts and souls to make powerful progress.

I am trying to look at it with fresh eyes and learn what you think, experience, feel, and want to see from DEI. I offer DEI Workshop as part of Bursting Through’s products but don’t consider myself or Bursting Through in the DEI debate.

Bursting Through’s lens is inclusion. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are different things that have been bound together with corporate efficiency. I’m not naive enough to think they will untether but I think it’s important to look at them individually because they are not synonyms but are often presented or received that way.

Diversity is about diversifying the personnel. The focus is on hiring, retention, or promotion to ensure that the people at the top of the organization or being brought into the organization align with the demographics of the applicant pool or the local labor pool.

Equity is about ensuring basic fairness in organizational systems and processes. Its focus is fairness in employee benefits programs, hiring practices, work assignments, mentorships, etc.

Inclusion is about company culture. It strives for an environment where people show up to work feeling respected and valued. Inclusion ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and that people are able to contribute their best ideas and be treated well by their colleagues and supervisors.

I believe that inclusion is a value of people in general and I know it’s one of your values. In addition, I know you are forward-thinking and solution-oriented.

Knowing what you think about some of the big questions is important. Bursting Through will incorporate your perspective and insights into our go-forward inclusion solutions.

A more connected and caring society is attainable. A more productive, collaborative, and profitable workforce is possible but not without your voice being heard.

Thank you for sharing your powerful point of view.

Thank you for being a Bursting Through member and an Active Ally. To keep Bursting Through moving forward and add more like minded people to our community:

Suggest a Bursting Through Workshop at your office.

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