In today’s globalized business environment, building an inclusive company culture is not just a moral imperative but a business necessity. Diversity and inclusion (D&I) drive innovation, improve employee satisfaction, and enhance company performance. This is especially critical for businesses onboarding remote global talent from diverse regions such as the Philippines, India, and Ukraine. In this article, I will explore the steps to foster diversity and inclusion, ensuring that every team member feels valued and respected.

Establishing a Diversity and Inclusion Foundation

Before building your team, it’s crucial to establish a strong foundation for diversity and inclusion.

• Define Your Values: Clearly articulate your company’s core values regarding diversity and inclusion. These values should be reflected in your mission statement and company policies. This sets the tone for your organizational culture.

• Create an Inclusive Vision: Develop a vision for what an inclusive company culture looks like for your organization. This vision will guide your hiring practices, policies, and everyday interactions.

• Set Measurable Goals: Establish specific, measurable goals for diversity and inclusion. These could include targets for diverse hires early in your company’s growth.

• Develop a D&I Policy: Draft a diversity and inclusion policy that outlines your commitment to creating an inclusive workplace. This policy should cover equal opportunity, anti-discrimination, and inclusivity practices. It sounds like something a big team needs, but starting with a clear plan will help develop sustainability.

Pro Tip for Remote Teams: Use collaboration tools like Trello or Asana to involve your remote advisors or mentors in brainstorming sessions to define your D&I values and vision.

Quick Win: Draft a clear statement of your company’s diversity and inclusion values and vision. Share this with any advisors, mentors, or initial team members to get their input and buy-in.

Implementing Inclusive Policies

Developing and enforcing policies that promote diversity and inclusion is essential for creating a supportive work environment.

• Inclusive Hiring Practices: Ensure that your hiring processes are fair and unbiased. This can be achieved by:

  • Standardizing Interviews: Use structured interview questions that focus on the candidate’s skills and experiences rather than personal characteristics.

  • Blind Recruitment: Remove personal information from applications to prevent bias during the initial screening process.

• Equal Opportunity Policies: Implement policies that guarantee equal opportunities for all employees, regardless of their background. This includes promotions, raises, and access to professional development.

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer flexible working hours and remote work options to accommodate employees from different time zones and cultural backgrounds.

Pro Tip for Remote Teams: Use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that support blind recruitment processes to minimize unconscious bias. Platforms like Greenhouse and Lever can help standardize your hiring process.

Quick Win: Start with standardizing interview questions and removing personal information from applications.

Training and Education

Continuous education and training are vital for fostering an inclusive culture.

• Diversity Training: Regularly conduct diversity training sessions to educate employees about the importance of diversity and inclusion. These sessions should cover topics like unconscious bias, cultural competence, and inclusive communication.

• Cultural Awareness Programs: Organize programs that celebrate different cultures within your team. This could include cultural exchange sessions, festivals, and workshops where employees can share their traditions and customs. Even the smallest of teams can benefit from a regular 10 minute talk session added to virtual meetings for people to share personal wins or personal goals.

Pro Tip for Remote Teams: Utilize online learning platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy to provide flexible and accessible diversity training for remote employees.

Quick Win: Schedule your first diversity training session. Start with a workshop on unconscious bias and its impact on workplace culture–even if you are the only one attending!

Celebrating Diversity

Recognizing and celebrating the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of your employees helps to build a sense of belonging.

• Time Off: Confer with your remote working team members–especially those in other countries and sync their holiday schedules with their national and religious holidays.

• Cultural Celebrations: Acknowledge and celebrate cultural holidays and events from various regions. Encourage employees to share their cultural practices and participate in these celebrations.

• Inclusive Communication: Promote the use of inclusive language and practices in all communications. This includes using gender-neutral language and respecting the preferred pronouns of employees.

Pro Tip for Remote Teams: Host virtual cultural celebration events using platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. This allows remote employees to participate and share their cultural traditions.

Quick Win: Update your paid leave policy to allow team members to take time off on their respective national and religious holidays. Asynchronous workflows mean your customers are able to have your business’ attention more often, not less often.

Building an inclusive company culture is a continuous journey that requires commitment, effort, and collaboration. By assessing your current culture, implementing inclusive policies, investing in training and education, and celebrating diversity, you can create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. Embracing diversity and inclusion not only enhances employee satisfaction but also drives innovation and business success. Start taking these steps today to foster a more inclusive and diverse workplace.

What steps have you taken to foster diversity and inclusion in your organization? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below! Let's learn from each other and work together to create inclusive workplaces for everyone.