ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training might not be on every employer’s to-do list, but it should be, according to a Binghamton–area consulting firm that offers a variety of trainings. Diversity, equity, and inclusion, at its heart, means appreciating and valuing individual differences and unique attributes including ethnicity, gender, age, and more, […]
ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training might not be on every employer’s to-do list, but it should be, according to a Binghamton–area consulting firm that offers a variety of trainings.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion, at its heart, means appreciating and valuing individual differences and unique attributes including ethnicity, gender, age, and more, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Most people associate DEI with race, says Amira Davis of Endicott–based D5 Consulting Group, LLC, but it’s about much more than race. It also includes LGBTQ, religion, and disabilities, and even recognizing that not everyone celebrates the same holidays. It also means respecting those differences.
And the bottom line is that it’s simply good business to train employees when it comes to DEI, Davis contends.
“You’re making an investment in your employees,” she says. “You’re making an investment in your company.”
A corporate culture that embraces DEI first has to start from the top down, she notes, and is a safe and respectful environment where all employees are treated the same.
Failure to do so can result in lower morale, employee resentment, and even higher turnover, Davis says. “People stay where they feel like they are valued.”
To help foster such an environment, Davis recommends companies ask their employees what they need. A simple way to do that is to send out a survey, and then really pay attention to the responses, she adds.
“Paying attention to your staff is really one of the biggest things,” says Davis, but other efforts can include starting a DEI group among leadership, fostering active listening, and forming an employee-resource group.
Companies can also hire firms such as D5 to come in and provide in-person training, which is Davis’s preference. The conversations surrounding DEI can be difficult and uncomfortable, and a pre-recorded video training can’t always adequately walk participants through those, she says.
The concepts behind DEI really aren’t new, but it’s important to remind people, she says. A lot of it is just reminding people to have respect for each other. “If we respect each other, we can listen to other perspectives,” Davis says.
Whether it’s through in-house initiatives or bringing in outside training, company leaders should understand that creating an inclusive culture doesn’t happen overnight.
D5 Consulting can collaborate with organizations to come up with a plan to reach DEI goals through coaching and support.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure it’s not just a buzzword,” Davis says. “It should just be built into the culture of a company.”
Owned by Sammy and Amira Davis, D5 Consulting offers training on DEI, cultural competency, group facilitation, train the trainers, drug and alcohol awareness, leadership and situation awareness, workplace violence (active shooter), and sexual harassment to businesses and school districts.
