Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) needs to become โthe normโ in organisations to escape the โdisappointingโ criticism by the UK government that it is a waste of time.
Thatโs the guidance coming from the latest episode of โAston means businessโ, a podcast from Aston University presented by journalist Steve Dyson.
Professor Shivani Sharma, the new deputy dean of people, culture and inclusion at the Universityโs College of Business and Social Sciences, explained that EDI cultures must become โeverybodyโs businessโ to address the existing gender and ethnicity pay gaps.
Responding to recent government criticisms of EDI schemes, Professor Sharma said:
โNot enough investment has gone into these roles because, if we look at the history, it tells us that just relying on everybody to do the right thing doesnโt work.โ
Also interviewed in the podcast was Omar Rashid, a director of The HR Dept, a human resources franchise for Birmingham Central & Wolverhampton.ย
Mr Rashid, who specialises in diversity and recruitment, said that government criticism of EDI initiatives was โdisappointingโ.
But he acknowledged: โI understand where theyโre coming from because, if itโs seen as a scheme, as something weโve got to do, and itโs not done properly, then maybe it is a waste of time and a waste of money. It has to be seen as the norm.โ
Our multicultural world needs to make equality, diversity and inclusion the norm
He said people need to realise they live in a multicultural world, with a diverse workforce, supply chain and customers, and that if implemented properly the benefits of EDI are there.
Mr Rashid, who is also president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce in Birmingham, specialises in diversity and recruitment. He added: โThere is opportunity there through different skills.ย
โEach individual, whether itโs race, religion, will bring their own perspectives, their own unique skills, even people with a disability. It shouldnโt be seen as a barrier.โ
Let’s move on from the ‘tick box mentality’
He said examples of a โtick box mentalityโ were where businesses might adopt Black History Month but do nothing for the other 11 months of the year, or provide a prayer room during Ramadan but not at any other time.
He added: โWhen itโs tick box, itโs not worth it because youโll have a business or someone who will do something for a short period of time. They half-heartedly did something without the conviction. Diversity shouldnโt be just a little bit here and there.โ
Professor Sharma went on to say that โworld daysโ such as International Womenโs Day can act as a catalyst to focus attention on an issue.
EDI needs to be part of everything we do, throughout the year
But she added: โItโs really important that why youโre doing that is clear, and that the strategy of raising awareness, to remove barriers to women, equitable inclusion in the workplace or in society, continues throughout the year.โ
She said that Aston University had recently gained an Athena Swan Gold award for promoting gender equality in higher education, but that the โscaleโ of the problem meant there was still lots more to achieve.
Lack of female and ethnic minority senior academics
She explained that proportions of women entering as students into higher education was really positive, as were degree completion rates. But she pointed to the fact that around 80 per cent of university vice chancellors identified as men, with low representations of ethnic minority women among professors.
Professor Sharma added: โIt will take a sustained effort to undo that over time.โ
She also praised the Inclusive Aston networking initiative at Aston University, with senior leaders mentoring colleagues of minority ethnic heritage.
Mr Rashid said SMEs needed to look at the opportunities that a diverse workforce and culture can bring to their business.
He added: โOne SME business engaged with someone from an Asian background, wanted to tap into India, and guess what? He has the connections and they were able to open a branch in India.โ
Catch up on all of the previous โAston means businessโ podcast episodes
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