Diversity in the workplace is a wide range of individuals from all backgrounds bringing their unique experiences and perspectives to create an innovative and thriving community. Diversity is generally the difference between individuals you may work with, serve, or manage. The critical areas of diversity and their characteristics include:
Culture, race, ethnicity, age, gender, including transgender.
Sexual orientation, abilities, educational background, and belief systems.
Equity
Equity in the workplace is the quality or ideal of being just, impartial, and fair. Equity refers to a state where every employee, regardless of their unique characteristics, has access to opportunities and a commitment to a continuous review of systems and processes that could create barriers or obstacles to such fairness. Equity gives employees the support necessary to ensure access to resources and opportunities.
Inclusion
Inclusion in the workplace is cooperative, collaborative, open, and diverse. Inclusion is the degree to which we embrace our diversity and ensure employees feel a part at all organizational levels in processes, critical groups, and decision making. Inclusion revolves around feeling involved in day-to-day interactions between employees, managers, leaders, teams, and peers.
Cultural Competency
Cultural Competency in the workplace is the ability to communicate and interact effectively with people across cultures who have varying beliefs, experiences, and social norms. Cultural Competency encourages exploring different perspectives or thought processes to increase empathy, adaptability, and respect while communicating.
The word "culture," which is different from heritage, refers to the beliefs, values, and ways of doing things across racial, ethnic, or social groups that influence our social behaviors and norms for interacting.
Unity
Unity in the workplace is operating collectively towards one vision to achieve common goals. Unity focuses on individuals working together through teamwork, regardless of differences.
Intent vs. Impact
Intent: A message you attempted to communicate.
Impact: What the person heard and how it was interpreted.