Employee communication to promote an inclusive work environment

Ideas and reflections from:

Wolfgruber, D., Einwiller, S., Brockhaus, J. (2021). Let's talk about diversity & inclusion: Fostering an inclusive work environment through communication, Communication Insights, No. 11, Akademische Gesellschaft für Unternehmensführung & Kommunikation, Leipzig.

A study conducted by Wolfgruber, Einwiller and Brockhaus (2021) empirically explored how communication within organizations can encourage and support the management of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I).

According to the study, the term diversity refers to the socio-demographic differences of the company population based on observable and unobservable characteristics that should reflect those of the society. Whereas inclusion is the positive psychological state in which employees perceive a sense of belonging, appreciation of their uniqueness, and the opportunity to participate fully in the company's decision-making processes.

The results confirm the growing importance of integrating D&I into organizational strategy and of an open, transparent and empathetic leadership for the development of an inclusive culture.

Employee communication itself plays a significant role in D&I management:

• it must be strategic, authentic and based on dialogue to ensure consistency, credibility and reliability
• is called to raise awareness among the company population by supporting training and mentoring programs, and to make employees active participants through gamification activities
• internal listening initiatives, such as surveys, interviews or focus groups, and external ones with the reference stakeholders are useful tools for identifying problematic areas and new objectives

• interpersonal communication was found to have a greater impact on the sense of inclusion of employees compared to mediated communication
• it can be supported by infrastructures without spatial and digital barriers and by specific networks of employees engaged in a common reflection on these issues.

For the future, organizations are called upon to focus on the issue of D&I through:

• the development of new work models, managerial styles and skills
• the definition of new roles
• the promotion of a language that respects diversity
• greater attention to the physical and mental health of employees and their work-life balance.