How to make sure your DEI efforts work

Long story short: Are your DEI strategies doing any good?

January 20, 2023 10:34 AM

Employers have good intentions when it comes to creating an equitable space for their employees. Yet they may be unintentionally missing the mark.

In this week's top stories, author Carice Anderson shared her journey to becoming her authentic self in spaces where she was often the only Black woman in the workplace. Anderson struggled with perfectionism and fear around being herself at work — she coined the term "Black Tax" and says it's often unsaid pressure that holds employees back.

"Nobody at [work] ever said, 'Hey, you're Black and you need to carry the weight of all Black people and you need to be perfect,'" Anderson says. "But that's the expectation that I came in with because of the messaging we get as Black people. [We're] always trying to strike a balance and walk this tightrope, because you're not really allowed to just be yourself."

For Jewish employees, employee resource groups are providing a supportive culture to discuss growing antisemitism and unconscious biases. Those microaggressions — a statement or an action that subtly or unintentionally discriminates against members of a marginalized group — can impact the employee experience and lead to turnover and a toxic work environment if left unaddressed.

From encouraging community, to sticking with remote work, these stories explore how to address the complex reality of diversity and equality in today's workplace.

How a 'Black tax' impacts the employee experience

Anderson says she's struggled with the emotional burden of being a Black woman in the corporate world — starting her career at one of the top accounting firms in the U.S., she was the only Black woman at her level of seniority. In her quest to be successful, she says she struggled with perfectionism, coining it a 'Black Tax,' that can hold employees of color back.

"I just remember feeling tremendous pressure, like I had to prove that Black people are worthy of being in this space," she says. "There's a lot of emotional and physical labor that goes along with constantly being in this mode of having to prove yourself." Anderson shared how she overcame these challenges and offers advice for employers to help facilitate a more authentic workplace.

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How a 'Black tax' impacts the employee experience

With antisemitism on the rise, Jewish ERGs offer solace and support

At a time of rising antisemitism and hate crimes against Jews, Jeremy Simon came to the realization that his appearance as a white male with an ambiguous religious identity masked his Jewish faith. While proud of that heritage, there were times when the senior vice president at Lippe Taylor Group didn't feel comfortable being his full self in workplaces.

Simon now co-chairs a Jewish employee resource group, which has 15 members and is part of a culture that encourages employees to band together. "It's nice for people to have empathy and feel considerate in these types of conversations as things are happening and having people reach out," Simon tells contributor Bruce Shutan. He discussed the role ERGs can play in addressing unconscious bias and providing safe spaces in the workplace.

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With antisemitism on the rise, Jewish ERGs offer solace and support

Microaggressions are derailing DEI movements

More than a quarter of Americans have experienced a microaggression at work, according to a recent survey by SurveyMonkey, and 36% have at least witnessed one. Microaggressions subtly enforce harmful stereotypes, like dismissing an idea made by a female employee but validating it when it's said by a male employee, to asking where an employee is from if they don't look white.

"The big things, most people recognize immediately. But those little things, some would characterize them as paper cuts," Kevin Carrington, senior vice president at Segal, tells associate editor Paola Peralta. "But it's those little paper cuts that occur in the day to day interactions in the office, the ones a lot of people try to brush off, that we're reacting to all day." Carrington shares how, if left unaddressed, microaggressions can lead employees to quit and DEI efforts to fall flat.

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Microaggressions are derailing DEI movements

5 things employers should know about caregiving and remote work

Initially, remote work was a temporary solution for office workers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three years later, many working caregivers have found that work-life balance is possible — if they are not forced into the office every day.

"Simply stated, remote work works," Natalie Mayslich, president of Care.com, tells associate editor Deanna Cuadra. "Time people previously spent commuting now translates into more time with their children and their seniors. While remote work may not be the cure-all to making work and life manageable, the relationship between the two is undeniable." Mayslich reveals why remote work is so beneficial to all employees — and especially working caregivers.

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5 things employers should know about caregiving and remote work