Despite what is being reported in the media, much of what we are seeing from organizations and hearing from DEI leaders is more of a reset or recalibration.  After the murder of George Floyd, many companies set lofty goals, increased the size of their DEI departments, and quite frankly bit off more than they could actually do.

Media headlines about the creation and then elimination of corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) positions at Big Tech companies have generated plenty of buzz. This kind of coverage can raise doubts about whether companies are committed to DEI in the long term. But these headlines aren’t telling the whole story.

The authors of this article identify three criteria that make DEI programs most risky and offer solutions to help organizations mitigate legal risk while maintaining the core project of building a more just future.

While managing DEI opposition can be challenging, CEOs and chief human resources officers (CHROs) can view this as an opportunity to reinforce their leadership roles by creating an inclusive and equitable culture linked to their business strategy.

Over the past year, corporations have grown more cautious about following through on DEI efforts as businesses cut costs and conservative activists, lawyers and lawmakers seek to purge the concept from workplace life. That caution, along with the Supreme Court’s ruling last year ending affirmative action in college admissions, has created more speculation over how DEI work might change – and what might be lost in the process.

As part of your DEI journey, it’s important to provide a forum for employees to ask questions and voice their concerns. Below, we’ve provided sample responses to common inquiries and pushback. We encourage you to engage in the difficult conversations and please reach out to HR if you require additional support or resources.

The Understanding the Impact and Power of Micromessaging Virtual Classroom is a 90-minute training that explores micromessages, the impact they can have in our workplaces and what we as individuals can do to mitigate the impact of microinequities and contribute to a culture of inclusion.

Microinequities are those small, commonplace things we do or say that make people feel less-than, uncomfortable or hurt.  Because the impact of each act on its own appears minor, microinequities often go unnoticed by everyone except the target – and therefore can be difficult to address. As the name suggests, microinequities may seem small; but compounded over time, they can have a profound impact on the target’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.  Here are some tips for addressing microinequities.

As individuals we need to be more aware of how the little things that are said or done on an individual basis impact overall corporate culture and personal well-being. We must stop tolerating microaggressions in our workplaces.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that Women’s ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that Veteran ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that LGBTQIA+ ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that Indigenous ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that Hispanic/LatinX ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that Disability focused ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that Black/African American ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

Here you will find sample trivia questions that AAPI ERGs can use as part of their Heritage month offerings and to build awareness across the organization.

For our Inclusion Learning Loop quarterly ERG Leader Learning Circle we engaged participants in an End in Mind Innovation exercise. We presented a desired future state (The Dream Outcome) for ERGs and asked participants to think backwards and ask themselves what challenges might get in the way of reaching that dream outcome. Participants worked in small groups to turn those challenges into problem statements and then worked together to brainstorm solutions to each of those problem statements.

This tool outlines a full calendar of events that ERG leaders can use as a guide when planning.

Are you committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace? This guide provides a roadmap for effectively using eLearning as a tool for building DEI awareness, competency and buy-in.

This microlearning and discussion guide explores the concept of bias, why we have it and what we can do to manage the impact of our biases using our STAND model.

This short, interactive microlearning and discussion guide will help participants understand unconscious bias and what they can to do to mitigate the impacts of bias.

We all have bias and although having bias doesn’t make us good or bad, we do have a responsibility to manage the effect of bias on our decisions and actions.

The STAND Framework is a tool you can use to manage bias by rethinking and reevaluating your first impressions. It is a process you can refer to help guide your decision-making process.

Bias is a very real part of life and every corporate culture and significant research shows a connection between our biases and our actions and decisions. However, we can take some steps to recognize our biases and limit the impact on our decision-making process.

The Leveraging Your ERG presentation and exercise provides a framework to strategically leverage your engagement in an ERG in support of your personal development and career goals.  The goal is to boost ERG engagement by demonstrating the benefits.

This tool is designed for ERG leaders and members.  ERG leaders can deliver this to members as a way to encourage active participation in the ERG.

The role of an ERG leader requires a lot of passion, time and commitment. And most of us aren’t sitting around with lots of spare time on our hands. But all that effort and energy comes with significant ROI.

Connecting with the people you work with doesn’t just make your team stronger — it’s good for you too. Whether you’ve just joined a new organization or you’re managing a remote team, these three tips from collaboration expert Mark T. Rivera can help you strengthen your ties with your co-workers, so that everyone can thrive.

These days, everyone feels pressed for time. Duke University professor Dorie Clark reveals the hidden reasons behind why we’re all so busy, and why we struggle to break out of the cycle of overwhelm. This talk presents a new way to look at the choices we make, and how to create more space in our lives to think.

Joining and actively engaging in a company-sponsored Employee Resource Group can be a great development tool and career enhancer. Most Employee Resource Groups have specific goals in place to provide development opportunities to their members. Here are some tips and strategies you can use in order to make the most of your ERG membership.