What is National Inclusion Week?
National Inclusion Week is a celebration of inclusion in all its forms. It brings together organisations globally to celebrate, share and inspire inclusion best practices. In its 9th year, National Inclusion Week 2022 will take place from 26 September to 2 October 2022. This year’s theme is ‘Time to Act: The Power of Now’. This global event is expected to bring together more than 16 million participants worldwide.
Each year, National Inclusion Week takes place to raise awareness of inclusion at work. Throughout the week, many businesses and organisations take part in a host of activities to stimulate rich conversations about inclusion in the workplace. Inclusive companies are 1.7 times more innovative, they notice 2.3 times more cash flow per employee and they are 120% more likely to hit financial goals. To help you get involved in the celebrations, the Romanian Diversity Chamber of Commerce is sharing some best practices on how you should celebrate.
The many social challenges of 2020 and 2021 related to the pandemic, the call for action on anti-racism and the move to hybrid work and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have had a significant impact on how included or excluded people feel in the workplace and in society at large.
How to celebrate National Inclusion Week 2022 in the Workplace
1) Assess your and your team’s inclusion
Well-designed assessments, tests and benchmarks can encourage more active learning, in particular when the assessment delivery is engaging. Self-assessment fosters a number of skills including reflection, self-awareness and critical thinking, giving individuals insight into their learning journey.
2) Volunteer for a charity
By volunteering for an inclusive non-profit or charity which focuses on disadvantaged groups and communities, you lead by example. Volunteering is a unique way to give back and educate yourself at the same time. Consider offering paid volunteering days to all your employees to celebrate National Inclusion Week.
3) Hire an inclusion expert
Hiring an expert on inclusion, who has deep knowledge and ability to educate about this topic, will transform your workplace into a highly inclusive and engaged work environment. For further details about this, contact us at andreea@rdcc.ro.
4) Create an inclusive calendar of events
A great way to include different cultural celebrations in your workplace is to create an inclusive calendar. This inclusive calendar will allow your people to identify any upcoming celebration that you should acknowledge, ensuring that everyone feels a sense of belonging.
5) Establish safe spaces
With so many different identities, religions and cultures, organisations can struggle to make everyone feel included. Safe spaces or Employee Resource Groups allow people with a common interest or background to come together and discuss common challenges and issues.