Commercial Integrator August 2023 - 10

AV AS A BUSINESS
Why Is Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion in the Workplace Important?
These fi ve impacts of DEI should help integrators understand why it's a business
priority and a focus of NSCA. By Natasha Getler-Porizkova
NSCA IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION
focused on helping integration companies
with their businesses. So, then, why
does NSCA concentrate on diversity,
equity and inclusion through its NSCA
DEI Action Council? The answer is that
fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in
the workplace is good for business.
And, deep down, we all know that. We
know that diversity brings about better
ideas and solutions. We know that equity
and inclusion help all employees succeed
and grow in their careers. These are outcomes
that every business leader wants.
Many NSCA member companies live
and breathe DEI, and they need little
guidance from the DEI Action Council or
anyone else. Others, however, need a little
DEI company-culture assistance.
5 Reasons Why DEI Is Important
The NSCA DEI Action Council, along with
NSCA Member Advisory Councilmember
Living HR, which provides DEI consulting,
is willing to help. Let's start by understanding
fi ve reasons why DEI in the workplace
is so important.
1. As the Workforce Changes,
Workplaces Must Change with It: Did
you know that, by the year 2045, there
will be no racial majority? The demographic
makeup of the U.S. is changing
rapidly, with the 2020 census showing
that the white, non-Hispanic population
decreased from 63.7% in 2010 to 57.8% in
2020. Other racial and ethnic groups are
responsible for generating overall growth.
To wit, Latinx or Hispanic, Asian American
and Black population grew by 20%, 29%
and 8.5%, respectively. The population
of people who are " two or more races " is
projected to be the fastest-growing group
over the next several decades, followed by
Asians and Hispanics.
In addition to that, 61 million adults in
the U.S. live with a disability. Meanwhile,
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Diversity is the key ingredient for reducing groupthink and allowing multiple
perspectives to come to the table. When organizations enact DEI, problems are
solved faster, teams are more productive and decisions are more thorough.
15.9% of Gen Z entering the workforce
identify as LGTBQIA+. The point is: The
world is changing. If your organization is
not keeping up, then it will fall behind.
QUICK SURVEY: Help NSCA
Understand Integration Industry
Demographics: www.surveymonkey.
com/r/NSCADEISurvey.
2. Talent Wants to Align with Your
Brand's Stances: Are you facing a talent
shortage, like everyone else is, due to
the ongoing eff ects of The Great Resignation?
If you're not prioritizing DEI in your
organization's culture, you're missing an
incredible value-add that talent is currently
seeking. In fact, 80% of employees say
that they want to work for a company
that values diversity, equity and inclusion.
Employees experience inclusion at work
when they feel valued, trusted, authentic
and psychologically safe.
How you show up on your website, the
words you include on your job descriptions,
the pictures you use and the organizations
you support all make a diff erence
Commercial Integrator AUGUST 2023
to the talent you're looking for, as well as
to the talent you're trying to keep. Take a
look, across all your eff orts, at how you're
representing yourself to talent. Work to
create transparency around your commitment
to a culture of inclusion.
Activity Versus Impact
3. Consumers Seek to Buy from Companies
That Do More: When you pursue
diversity, equity and inclusion eff orts, it's
important to think about activity versus
impact. What results or changes are your
activities producing? Although your
intent might be to show that you care,
consumers and employees want to see
tangible changes that come from your
communicated commitments.
In fact, consumers want to buy from
brands that stand for something and
that are dedicated to making an impact.
According to a survey from Afl ac, 77%
of consumers are motivated to buy from
companies that are committed to making
the world a better place.
Think about how your brand shows up
online. Have you posted your DEI commitcommercialintegrator.com
RAWPIXEL.COM/STOCK.ADOBE.COM
http://www.RAWPIXEL.COM/STOCK.ADOBE.COM http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NSCADEISurvey http://www.commercialintegrator.com
Commercial Integrator August 2023

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