insights How can we ensure inclusion within a remote workforce?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home has
become commonplace, marking a dramatic change in our
working lives. Working remotely could become a permanent arrangement for a
large number of employees across the globe, and firms must adapt to ensure that
their operations align with the changing world. Diversity and inclusion are a huge
part of a successful business and ensuring inclusion within a remote workforce
is a new challenge for businesses.
At AtkinsRéalis , and our Aktins and Faithful+Gould businesses,
diversity
and inclusion are at the forefront of everything we do, and we are
passionate about ensuring that the workplace is an inclusive environment for
all. Challenges from COVID-19, isolation and remote working are the driving
force behind a range of new obstacles facing both employees and employers. Here,
we discuss how we can ensure that inclusive practices are being implemented
within a remote workforce.
Increase team building activities
Diversity and inclusion often create
a high-performance culture; therefore it is imperative that all businesses
make it a priority within their remote workforce. Although many workers are
well-suited for remote work, it doesn’t mean they feel as connected and
included in a virtual environment. Creating and incorporating structured team
building sessions can be a powerful tool in ensuring that all employees feel
included and noticed.
Stimulate social interaction and strengthen professional
connections by hosting virtual events, social gatherings, and ongoing
conversations about diversity and inclusion. You can also ask team members to
volunteer to organise these team-building events and share the responsibility
to encourage engagement.
Promote participation
Without a concerted effort to address the issue,
exclusionary dynamics within workforces have the potential to be increased in a
remote context. One key area to keep a watchful eye on is each team member’s
participation in conversations and projects. With virtual
meetings, it can be substantially more difficult to get involved in a
discussion and employees can often feel left out of meetings.
To counter this, team leaders can establish direct
communication with workers and make a point to draw them into team discussions.
This can ensure that team members have an equal opportunity to contribute to
virtual meetings. Be aware of everyone’s communication methods and practices
and try to incorporate them into each meeting that you have.
Cater to people’s needs
A diverse
workforce will often mean that employees will have a range of different
lifestyles, responsibilities and needs. With remote working, personal
challenges can often be overlooked as employers don’t have as much face-to-face
time with their team members, making it more difficult to spot an issue.
As a leader, it is important that you understand what
someone is facing and offer to make adjustments to ensure that they can perform
their role to the best of their ability. This can be as simple as asking a team
member if they are experiencing any potential distractions or challenges that
are affecting their working lives.
Simple changes such as allowing parents to leave a meeting
early to pick up their children on time can make the world of difference to an employee’s
life and state of mind. Catering to individuals’ needs should be a priority for
any firm looking to create an inclusive environment amongst their remote
workforce.
Create individual inclusion targets
Every member of a remote workforce plays a role in creating
a more inclusive working environment. Businesses should ensure that there is a
culture amongst each employee of establishing accountability and making the
effort to be inclusive.
A great way to improve the inclusion of a workforce is to
create individual inclusion targets. Ask each team member to commit to an
inclusive practice to experiment with each week. These can include:
- Notify someone if you witness any exclusive behaviour or language.
- Pay attention to members of the team that aren’t speaking and actively bring them into the conversation.
- Attend diversity and inclusion events.
- Ask questions to learn more about different individuals and cultures.
Find your next role at AtkinsRéalis
Implementing the steps above to ensure inclusion isn’t just
a trend to follow. Instead, they are measures to promote inclusivity and
diversity year-round. Making sure individuals from all backgrounds have the
same opportunities for growth and learning is a core responsibility at
AtkinsRéalis and a practice that we take great pride in.
If you’re looking to take the next step in your career, browse our jobs today, join the talent
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