DEI: trying to make sense of current negative press

It is notable that in the US, through the favoured use of the acronym DEI, that the focus has been to place diversity first. While it is impossible to get beneath the rationale for Trump’s decision-making, potentially a focus on statistical diversity may have been one of the drivers. And, as such, DEI has been blamed for staffing inadequacies, such as those suggested in the US air traffic control.The pursuit of diversity statistics – or indeed of fulfilling statistical quotas – is unlikely to bring about the employment of the best people. Statistics alone are a means to an end. Hence, the focus should be on inclusion and equitable treatment. However, inclusion is not easy to achieve. Listening to – and engaging – all members of the workforce takes time and can bring about conflict. However, while negative conflict is destructive, positive conflict is constructive.

Dealing with conflict can be difficult and resolving it can be messy. Nonetheless, positive results can flow from it. It takes time and effort to include everyone but with wider-ranging solutions to problem-solving and greater buy-in to those solutions from across the workforce, business outcomes do tend to be more positive.Hence, despite the current negative press on DEI, it is important to maintain a focus on inclusion and upon equitable treatment of diverse personnel in the workplace.

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