Evaluating Your Business/Organization
HOW TO EVALUATE YOUR POLICIES
To ensure equal and fair treatment in the workplace, it is important that the company/organization's policies are evaluated based on 3 major categories: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.
Companies/organizations must have policies in place to promote all 3 of these categories, and ensure that they are enforced, and valued by all members of the team. Steps should be in place to evaluate each of these categories on a regular basis.
Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.
- Malcolm Forbes
Is there a mix of different “kinds” of people?
Identity markers: gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability - factors leading to marginalization and legally protected statuses.
Is the value of this diversity shown through acceptance of a wide range of approaches and ideas at the business or organization?
Diversity and inclusion needs to be something that every single employee at the company has a stake in
- Bo Young Lee
Has the business/organization created an environment in which everyone is welcome, respected, supported, and valued?
Has the organization/business learned how to effectively work across differences?
Has the business organization made it so those present at the table can equally contribute to discussions and decision-making and have the ability to help change systems?
Inclusivity means not ‘just we’re allowed to be there,’ but we are valued. I’ve always said: smart teams will do amazing things, but truly diverse teams will do impossible things.
Inclusion is more than simply being seated at the table
Inclusion means that no one has more or less power because of a difference in identity
Inclusion cannot happen if a person must assimilate into workplace culture
Lack of inclusivity can lead to individuals minimizing or downplaying their differences in identity in order to achieve the workplace norm
how to avoid tokenism
Tokenism is the practice of making only a perfunctory or symbolic effort to be inclusive to members of minority groups, especially by recruiting people from underrepresented groups in order to give the appearance of racial or sexual equality within a workforce.
The difference between equity and equality is that equality is everyone gets the same thing, and equity is everyone get the things they deserve.
- Deray McKesson
Is the condition of the workplace level and impartial?
Has the business/organization acknowledged that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach?
Is there open acknowledgement that many aspects of our society are based on uneven playing fields?
What steps have been taken to identify and eliminate barriers for marginalized individuals?
Has the business/organization recognized the inherent power differentials that have resulted in disparate treatment based on identity?
What goals have been made to increase equitable practices, and what steps have been taken to reach them?
GET CVEI CERTIFIED
STEP 1: APPLY
Show your dedication to equality diversity and inclusion by applying to become a CVEI certified business. The application process includes both an online application, and an interview process to determine eligibility
STEP 2: GET CERTIFIED
Once you are certified, you will be supplied with a certification certificate for the year. This can be displayed on your website, or within your brick and mortar location, so people can identify you as a equality supportive business
STEP 3: MAINTAIN
CVEI certification lasts for 12 months (calendar year). In order to maintain your status as a certified business, you will have to re-apply for certification. This is to ensure that businesses/organizations are continually taking steps to be diverse and inclusive