DEI Training: Creating Inclusive Workplaces

DEI training is increasingly important in today’s multicultural and multigenerational workplace. Recent social and racial justice movements have raised expectations for diversity training programs to be more effective in creating a respectful, inclusive work culture. While every organization is different, HR and training leaders recognize the need for online diversity training for employees that provides engaging learning experiences that support organizations’ diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy and goals.

A strong culture of diversity and inclusion benefits everyone and can result in more innovation, higher employee engagement and retention, improved decision making, and enhanced brand reputation. Conversely, a lack of diversity and inclusion in the workplace can result in negative consequences across an organization — from increasing the risk of discrimination and harassment to being a barrier to attracting and retaining top talent.

Organizations that make DEI a priority understand that diversity training isn’t a one-time event. It should be part of an ongoing program to improve DEI, aligned with the organization’s priorities and values and woven into policies, practices, processes and operations.

Story-based diversity training goes beyond simply raising awareness. It focuses on what it means to think and act inclusively — whether individuals are interacting in-person, online or on the phone. Behavior-based training should challenge learners with realistic scenarios, videos and interactive exercises that explore assumptions and stereotypes about people and groups. Diversity and inclusion goes beyond race and gender. It encompasses abilities, age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, veteran status, diversity of thought and other characteristics.

As part of a long-term approach to increasing DEI, online diversity and inclusion training helps organizations foster a more welcoming, inclusive workplace by increasing employees’ awareness and understanding of the issues shaping workplace culture and providing practical strategies and tactics for being more inclusive in day-to-day interactions and decisions.

What is Diversity Training?

Effective diversity training raises employee awareness of the importance of working together with people from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. Employees learn how to recognize and manage behaviors that can undermine individuals and teams, along with positive actions that, together with management’s commitment and the right policies, can create a culture in which everyone has opportunities to thrive and participate in the organization’s operations and leadership.

Benefits of Online Diversity Training

Implementing an interactive, online training program for employees and managers is one of the key components of improving workplace culture, motivating inclusive behaviors and increasing employee engagement. Diversity and inclusion training provides a flexible learning and communication tool that explains and reinforces an organization’s DEI goals and behavior expectations.

Online, interactive DEI training should be relevant to the workforce and updated regularly to reflect changes that are happening inside and outside of today’s evolving work environment.