Why Workplace EDI Matters to you

WHY EDI

The business case for equity, diversity, and inclusion is stronger than ever.

The business case for equity, diversity, and inclusion is stronger than ever.

Authentic workplace EDI brings together people and ideas to help build stronger workplaces and ensures that employees have a workplace culture where they can perform at their best. It addresses the basic human need to feel safe, supported, and belong. Studies show that when these basic needs are met in workplaces, employees become dedicated and engaged, perform better, and are less likely to leave their positions. When diversity and inclusion of thought and experience are present in a workplace, it contributes to improved workplace resiliency, creativity, problem-solving, and innovation – key factors in growth and sustainability. Equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace practices aren’t just something to strive towards; they are a key component of workplace success overall.
A diverse group of individuals collaborating around a whiteboard at GEDI Hub, promoting workplace equity and diversity inclusion.

The ‘who, where, when, what, and how’ of workplace EDI can be daunting for most workplaces.

Although Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are connected terms, they are separate concepts. That’s why we’ve broken each down into easy-to-understand terms so your workplace can take that first step in building your capacity and knowledge in workplace EDI.
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The diverse team at the GEDI-Hub, working towards equity and inclusion in the workplace.

What is Equity?

Equity aims to ensure that there is fair treatment, access, equal opportunity, and advancement for everyone. Equity identifies and removes barriers that may be preventing people from fully participating – or benefitting within a workplace.

Equity is an important consideration when designing internal workplace processes, culture, and delivery of resources. Equity directly affects employee retention and engagement. Equity allows workplaces to better value and leverage differences and accesses diverse perspectives.

At GEDI Hub, a man and woman sit in chairs, engaging in a conversation about promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

What is Diversity?

Diversity is all the ways that people are different from one another. These differences may include race, ethnicity, religion, marital/family status, sex, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, age, class, and/or socio-economic situations.

Diversity influences ideas, perspectives, and values, guided by people’s lived experiences and realities. Workplaces that lack new perspectives are statistically not as competitive and innovative as compared to those workplaces that embrace diversity. Diversity is about creating a workforce with a wider variety of ideas and approaches.

A speaker passionately presenting to a diverse group, promoting workplace equity and diversity at GEDI Hub.

What is Inclusion?

Inclusion builds a place and a culture where everyone feels welcome by actively inviting everyone to share their perspectives and participate. It’s very much about behavior and the ways people interact with each other. In an inclusive workplace, employees are given the opportunity to voice opinions, not feeling excluded based on their differences. Exclusion, on the other hand, can be extremely destructive in a workplace – leading to high employee turnover and lost productivity.

Interested in creating a workplace EDI Strategy, but don’t know where to begin? 

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EDI Resources

Here you will find fillable templates, toolkits, business cases for workplace EDI, and pre-recorded workshops to assist you as you begin to build your workplace’s EDI strategy.
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