Imagine a workplace where everyone feels empowered, valued and appreciated for the work they do. How would you describe such an environment? A workplace with equal or equitable relationships?
First, let’s unpack the difference between equity and equality:
Equality is when all employees are given the same resources, treatment and opportunities, regardless of their individual skills, strengths and needs.
Equity is when all employees receive the support and resources they need to thrive, perform at their best and reach their full potential.
As important as it is not to play favoritism and give preferential treatment to certain employees, it’s equally crucial to recognize that not all employees start from the same place or have the same needs.
Let’s dive into an example:
Imagine two employees: Sara and John, both working in the engineering design department. Sara has years of experience with AutoCAD and other design softwares, when John is newer to the field and lacks technical design skills. Expecting both employees to perform the same tasks without considering their skill sets (an equal working environment) can lead to frustration and underperformance for both Sara and John. On the other hand, in an equitable work environment, John is assigned to simpler tasks while he’s provided with training and development opportunities. Sara is assigned to more complex design activities that align with her expertise and skill set. This approach ensures both employees can perform at their best and reach their full potential based on their unique abilities.
The Impact of Workplace Equity on Employee Health and Wellness
Increased Job Satisfaction and Sense of Purpose
When employees feel valued for their unique contributions, they are more likely to experience higher job satisfaction, increased motivation, and a stronger sense of loyalty to their employers. The boosted engagement reduces absenteeism and enhances retention which is also beneficial to the corporation’s bottom line.
Reduced Stress and Burnout
Employees who are assigned to tasks and responsibilities suited to their skill set, while being given opportunities for growth and development are typically more productive. They feel more motivated and are less likely to experience stress or burnout.
Improved Physical and Mental Health
Employees facing depression, experience a 21.5% loss in productivity, while those with chronic pain face a 13% productivity loss.
An equitable workplace provides access to physical and mental health resources suited to the individual’s specific needs. These resources are crucial to maintaining an optimal mental and physical wellbeing which leads to improved work-life balance. In this environment, employees feel healthier, happier and naturally more productive.
8 Strategies for Better Workplace Equity
1. Empower Leaders to Review Existing Practices and Take Bold Action to Design an Equitable Working Environment
The first step in shifting towards a more equitable workplace is to review the organization’s current practices to identify any gaps or deficiencies. Start by asking questions like: Are leaders aware of their teams’ strengths and weaknesses? How familiar are they with team members’ unique needs? This process should start with a holistic approach at the team level and dive deeper into individual skill sets and areas for improvement. Actively engage employees in the process. This helps identify hidden barriers and roadblocks that may not be apparent.
The final step to design an equitable workplace is to implement tangible changes and establish accountability. This could involve revising company policies, introducing new training programs or making adjustments to current leadership practices. Training programs that help managers and employees recognize hazards such as harassment, bullying and psychologically unhealthy behavior can be very effective. Establishing a clear system to measure success and hold teams and individuals accountable ensures the effectiveness of the equity initiatives in the long run.
2. Assess Whether the Workplace Is Perceived as Equitable by All Employees
You may think that your organization is doing great when it comes to workplace equity, but the reality is that not everyone may perceive the workplace as equitable. Employees may have different experiences and perspectives. What feels fair to some may not feel the same to others. This is where obtaining employee feedback goes a long way. Leaders and executive must do frequent check-ins to test if the everyone equally views the workplace as equitable. Conduct surveys, focus groups or one-on-one interviews to gain insight.
3. Implement Bias-Free Hiring Practices
There is no doubt that hiring must be based on merit and not factors like race or gender. However, leader must also consider the importance of maintaining a working environment free of bias based on race or gender. For instance, if two candidates are equally qualified for a role, should the organization prioritize hiring the female applicant if the team is predominantly male? This approach helps create an equitable environment while still valuing qualifications.
4. Provide Equitable Development and Growth Opportunities
People with power within the organization should value differences and be on the search for how they can create opportunities for others. This approach ensures that everyone can thrive without being forced to feel out of place or intimidated due to their differences.
5. Create a Safe Environment for Employee Input and Perspective
- Be transparent about the intentions: Make it clear that feedback is collected for the purpose of improving workplace practices and not to judge or penalize employees
- Ensure that employees feel comfortable and safe sharing their honest feedback and emphasize that their voices will help drive meaningful impact.
- Promote psychological safety: Ensure that employees feels safe sharing their perspective and that there are no negative consequences for providing honest feedback
- Provide multiple feedback channels and ensure feedback is obtained anonymously and confidentially
6. Lead by Example
Implicit bias, or unconscious bias can be present in everything we do and how we try to design an equitable system. Therefore, leading by example should be a top-down and bottom-up approach in every organization. Leaders and executives must model the behaviors, values and attitudes they expect from the employees to create a more equitable working environment. At the same time, employees must be encouraged to take initiative to create a culture within their teams that celebrates, values and leverages differences.
7. Provide Equitable Mental and Physical Health Support
Introduce and advocate for mental health resources through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Encourage employees to use these resources and ensure they are aware of what programs are available. Raise awareness and educate on health issues through workshops, open discussions and campaigns to reduce stigma and help employees understand their physical and mental health issues better. Creating a culture of compassion and empathy is essential for encouraging a supportive and equitable workplace.
8. Review and Audit Employee Compensation
How frequently does your organization conduct pay reviews? Regular compensation reviews (Most experts recommend annual) ensure that employees are paid fairly and competitively compared to the market. It is also an opportunity to reward high-performing employees. Keep the company’s pay structure up to date by leveraging technology and sourcing benchmarks from reliable providers like Ravio.
It’s important to design and update the pay structure based on roles and responsibilities as well as market benchmarks, not gender and races.
An equitable workplace is an environment where differences between the individuals are celebrated and not demonized. Equity in organizations is about designing a corporate culture that everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve what they define as their goals (e.g. happiness, better work-life balance or success). This environment recognizes interdependence between the individuals and uses their collective power where everyone thrives and contributes their strengths.
