Change is the only constant in today’s global landscape. The fast technological evolution, globalization, dynamic cultural norms - all are leading to both new challenges and new growth opportunities. When change comes with disruption, the impact spreads through all layers of society. The increased migration in Europe, for instance, has not only amplified cultural diversity but also raised awareness on the subject. Another eloquent example is the COVID pandemic which transformed the way we live, communicate and work. Within the complexity of the contemporary world, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are core ideals that represent our collective dedication to building a just and thriving global society.

What Is Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)?

The desire to bring more humanity to the workplace and transform it into a more inclusive environment gave rise to specific terminology. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI or DE&I) is a term used to describe the core of a welcoming and flourishing workplace. HR specialists and activists apply this term when they refer to a policy or practice aimed at fostering an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes employees from diverse backgrounds and provides them with the necessary support to unleash their full potential in the workplace. Each of these three terms is distinct and covers specific aspects of a human-centric organizational culture.

  • Diversity refers to all angles of human uniqueness. A diverse team is one where people with varying backgrounds and perspectives work together. Besides aspects like ethnic diversity, gender and age variation, company diversity include mixed viewpoints, different opinions and plurality in the way of thinking. Diversity sparks creativity, this is why more and more organizations strive to nurture it.
     
  • Equity is about understanding that every person has unique needs, which have to be addressed to ensure each employee has the same access to opportunities. This goes beyond equality, because treating everyone as if their experiences are exactly the same, will cause unfairness. By embracing equity, organizations not only address bias but fosters a more just and balanced work environment where everyone can develop to their full capacity.
     
  • Inclusion at work means creating a place where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported, no matter who they are or where they come from. To truly promote inclusion at work, organizations should take a holistic approach. This includes implementing inclusive policies and practices, providing diversity training, actively listening to employee feedback, and holding leadership accountable for fostering an equitable culture.

What are the EU's official directives regarding DEI?

In recent years, the European Union (EU) has taken significant strides toward enhancing diversity and inclusion within the workplace through comprehensive legislation. These regulations are deployed to empower and support employees while encouraging companies to take responsibility. Beyond benefiting people and local communities, this also consolidates the social networks within modern society.

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - GDPR is well-known as the foundation of data protection and privacy in the digital arena. Far exceeding mere compliance, this regulation, which came into effect in 2018, ensures that every individual's personal information is handled with utmost respect and transparency.
     
  • EU Directive 2023/970 for enforcing equal pay for equal work between men and women. This directive is one of the most recent measures approved to support DEI. Focused on closing the gender pay gap, it ensures employers make pay information clear and accessible, introducing measures for enhanced pay transparency and robust enforcement mechanisms.
     
  • The European Accessibility Act - approved in 2019, this legislation is designed to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities to products and services in the EU, including the workplace environment. The products and services covered are of great importance for persons with disabilities while being most likely to have diverging accessibility requirements across EU countries: digital products, tech equipment, transportation services, banking services.
     
  • EU Directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers - this directive introduced a series of legislative measures aimed at improving working parents’ and carers’ conditions, and leads to women’s higher employment rate, earnings and better career progression.

The legislative landscape has come a long way in creating a discrimination-free workplace where employees can prosper both in their professional and personal lives. How does your organization promote and support diversity? Here is a great tool to find out your current level of DEI.

Why is DEI Important for Organizations?

Building a diverse and inclusive workplace is more than just employer branding… much more. Following all these regulations and moving towards DEI standards is about caring about your employees and providing them a prospere work environment. The lack of empathy reflects on overall job satisfaction and employee retention. A recent Airbinger report shows that only 22% of all professionals surveyed described job satisfaction at their company as excellent. The same study found that low job satisfaction is strongly linked to low morale and low employee engagement. Your company's success is built on the well-being and happiness of your people. Invest in their growth, support their needs, and create a workplace that everyone would aspire to be a part of.

How Papervee Can Help Your Business?

Technology can't replace human connections, but it sure saves us time for more meaningful engagement. With Papervee, a complete Human Resources Management Solution, you ensure transparency and easy access to information, having more time to collect feedback, listen to your team and spot areas for improvement. By implementing digital HR processes, you enhance communication between managers, employees, and the HR department with intuitive request workflows, offering detailed reports and real-time insights. Papervee empowers remote and hybrid work environments, providing an intuitive request and approval system, instant document generation and fast access to important data. Empower your team, go digital!