By now, you must have heard the terms diversity and inclusion! This is something that’s highly recommended in modern workplaces today, as it creates a sense of belonging, happiness, and hence a more productive working environment. But what is this diversity and inclusion? Let’s dive a bit deeper to understand better;

What is Diversity in the Workplace?

In simple terms, diversity in the workplace describes a situation where an organization employs a diverse workforce, reflecting the society in which it exists and operates. Even though it sounds simple from the definition, practically, it’s not that simple. The reason being, diversity does incorporate elements that distinguish individuals from each other, such as gender, race, age, and so forth.

What is Inclusion in the Workplace?

This term is commonly used in tandem with diversity, but we have to tell you that inclusion is entirely a concept of its own. It basically means the achievement of a workspace where all the employees feel, valued, are treated fairly, respectfully, and most importantly, they have equal opportunities as well as resources, to not only boost their careers, but also contribute to the business’s growth. It’s all about understanding and respect, ensuring that the employees hear and consider each other’s opinions.

However, according to Harvard Business Review, promoting inclusion in the workplace is extremely difficult – there is a lot of work that one needs to do. A lot of feedback is also necessary, with regards to any current or proposed efforts to know what to alter to fit the purpose.

Workplace diversity laws in Singapore

Workplaces are inherently diverse in Singapore, especially in terms of ethnicity as well as culture. All this is possible thanks to an array of nationalities working and living in the country. Even though there are no specific laws in the country protecting employees against workplace discrimination, there are Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) guidelines that are in place to protect them. They are as follows:

Fairness – fairness in the workplace is a must! There is actually no discussion about that! In that regard, the guidelines suggest that all the employees should be treated and with respect. And to motivate them, the employees have to be rewarded fairly, based on performance, experience, as well as ability and contribution.

Opportunities – employers need to provide the employees with equal opportunities and resources which would help them reach their full potential, regardless of who they are. Everything has to be based on their specific needs and strengths.

Recruitment – with regards to recruitment, the guidelines state that companies should select job candidates based on merit, regardless of their background, gender, age, race, religion, and so on.

Today, over 5000 employers across Singapore are TAFEP signers, and that means that they have dedicated themselves to realizing diversity and inclusion in the workplace. A few years ago, the Diversity Action Committee did advocate for more women’s involvement in the workplace, and as of June 2018, the Top 100 SGX listed companies did hit 15%, which was a 20% jump.

Final Thought

Given how important diversity in the workplace actually is, every job seeker needs to ask the employer about their policies with regards to the matter during the interview. It will not only give you a good feel of the companies priorities, but it will also show them that you are really interested in making sure that you will be playing in a fair field, and that you will keep an open mind when it comes to your colleagues.