The HOSPA Board:
Governance History
Employee Engagement
Diversity and Inclusion
The best businesses benefit from a dynamic and diverse mix of people. Diversity and inclusion are now, quite rightly, hot topics in business. But while many companies are talking about it, there is still a very long way to go. And all-too-often we see signs of 'Divers(ish)' practices – businesses being selectively inclusive (depending on what suits the organization).
Like many of the big and important ethical business initiatives, this requires expert focus to enact properly and with full integrity. But a good starting point is to understand the breadth of the topic (and avoid being overly focused on just one area).
In her book, Diversify, June Sarpong highlights how our general fear of the ‘other’ (whatever ‘other’ is for you) subconsciously influences our behaviour. Whether we like it or not, ‘other-izing’ is something we all do, and ‘other-isms’ are something we all have.
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The book looks at different types of 'others':
THE OTHER MAN
Disenfranchised males in society.
THE OTHER WOMAN
Gender inequality in society.
THE OTHER CLASS
The economic gap between the elite and working classes.
THE OTHER BODY
How we treat those who don’t fit physical and mental standards of so-called ‘able-bodied’.
THE OTHER SEX
How LGBTQ communities are treated.
THE OTHER AGE
Ageism from the perspective of young and old.
THE OTHER VIEW
Divisions caused by opposing political or religious views.
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She proposes six degrees of integration:
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Challenge your ism: beware of your conscious and unconscious bias.
Check your circle: don’t just talk to the people you usually do.
Connect with the others: seek out people you wouldn’t normally.
Change your mind: be prepared to accept another view.
Celebrate difference: find the best that alternative views can offer.
Champion the cause: there is more power in unity than division.
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Content adapted from The Ethical Business Book. More @ ethicalbusinesblog.com
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