Designing workplaces for diversity, equity and inclusion

Business leaders know that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are essential for a happy, healthy and productive place to work. Does your office tick the box?

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According to research by Gartner, a diverse mix of perspectives, styles and approaches fosters better performance.

  • 75% of organisations whose frontline decision making teams reflect a diverse and inclusive culture will exceed their financial targets.

  • Gender diverse and inclusive teams outperform gender homogeneous and less inclusive teams by an average of 50%.

An evolving landscape

While most people are familiar with the term ‘diversity and inclusion’, ‘equity’ is an addition that addresses fair treatment, equal opportunity and access to information and resources for all.


As well as traditional DEI factors, such as gender and physical ability, companies should consider newer developments, like neurodiversity and an ageing workforce.

Open spaces encourage interaction
Providing the right spaces encourages diversity

Accessibility

By law, workplaces must be suitable for people with physical disabilities. This means everything from wheelchair access, adjustable desks and ergonomic equipment to safety and wayfinding signage for the sight and hearing impaired, as well as facilities for service animals.

Despite nearly 1 in 10 suffering from colour blindness, many companies fail to accommodate it in the workplace.

Gender and sexual orientation

Consider how your office experience impacts different genders, including those who identify as a gender other than the one assigned at birth. For example, you might eliminate transparent staircases, provide milk-expressing rooms and ensure that no signage uses gendered language or symbols. You may also let people share their preferred pronouns through labelled desks and lockers.

Gender neutral signage

Age

Be mindful of misconceptions about what people need at different stages of life. Older workers may want to use the ping pong table as much as their younger colleagues, while millennials and boomers need good back support alike.

Older workers may (or may not) have different needs

Medical needs

You might account for common health conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and allergies in the workplace. Does a team member require somewhere to take insulin? Talk to your people to find out specifically what they need.

Wellbeing clinic at client Superdrug's offices

Faith and culture

Can you dedicate a room for people to observe religious or cultural customs? If you have an area where you celebrate Christmas, for example, make sure you adapt it for other holidays, such as Eid or Rosh Hashanah. Ensure the language or imagery you use around the workplace is inclusive and sensitive and reflects the diversity of your teams.

Providing a room where people can pray can help accommodate different faiths
diversity, equity and inclusion in offices

A DEI strategy requires a detailed and multi-faceted approach – with your people at the centre.

diversity, equity and inclusion in offices

DEI download

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