Everything You Need to Know About Diversity Training in the Workplace

Why do managers need diversity training?

Is it only managers, or should you also be educating employees on diversity?

What are the benefits of diversity training for employees and managers?

If you’ve been hearing or wondering about diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we’re glad you’re here.

Diversity training in the workplace is a necessary and valuable addition to any organization’s training program. Not only does it benefit individuals, but it also positively impacts your entire organization.

We’ve seen the importance and advantages of diversity training, so we thought we’d share some insights. Keep reading to learn more about diversity sensitivity in the workplace and how to start doing it in your company today.

The Need for Diversity Training in the Workplace

There’s a growing need for diversity training and diversity sensitivity in the workplace.

A Glassdoor survey found that 57% of employees think their companies should do more to increase workplace diversity—company employees believe diversity is important.

But how do organizations actively take steps toward increasing diversity in their workplaces? One of the first and best places to start is with managers and employees.

Let’s look more closely at why diversity training in the workplace for managers and employees is necessary.

Why Do Managers Need Diversity Training?

In the same Glassdoor survey mentioned above, 45% of employees said that managers were in the best position to increase diversity.

Think about it for a moment:

• Who interacts with and influences employees regularly?
• Who’s responsible for carrying out the company’s cultural values?
• Who often has an active role in hiring new team members?

The answer to each of these questions is the same: your managers.

Managers play a vital role in the success of any workplace initiative, including bringing awareness to and increasing diversity in your organization.

But how can managers increase workplace diversity if they don’t know what it is or how to do it? This is where training comes into play.

By providing your managers with diversity training, you’re preparing them to introduce a culture of diversity into the workplace. As managers elevate diversity, it will trickle down to your employees.

Why Do Employees Need Diversity Training?

It can also be beneficial to provide your employees with diversity training.

Rather than reacting to diversity issues when they arise, providing employees with diversity training in the workplace can proactively handle these issues. It ensures employees know that you value diversity and won’t tolerate any negativity towards diversity.

Educating employees on diversity also takes some pressure off of your managers. Though managers are the main drivers of diversity, they can’t be everywhere at once and in every conversation as they’re happening.

When managers and employees both receive training, everyone is on the same page and can stand up for the same values.

There are also many other advantages of diversity training. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of diversity programs.

4 Benefits of Diversity Training for Employees

Now that you know more about why diversity training in the workplace is essential, let’s look at some ways you can benefit from diversity training.

1. Normalizes Diversity

First and foremost, a diversity program for managers and employees normalizes diversity. It shows your teams that you’re serious about diversity.

When you don’t talk about values, employees won’t get the sense that these values are important. Similarly, if you keep the lid on specific issues, it can perpetuate them and cause more significant problems down the road.

The best way to begin any process is to start the conversation and get managers involved. You don’t have to have all the answers or solve every problem immediately.

Normalizing diversity simply gets everyone on the same page and opens the door for future opportunities and growth.

2. Provides a Space to Learn and Grow

Following in line with number one, cultural diversity training in the workplace provides an open invitation for employees to learn and share.

For some employees, a diversity training program will be their first exposure to diversity. Maybe they’ve never thought about diversity or recognized the need for it before. Encourage them to ask questions and dialogue with others. Your training will help them gain a better understanding and allow them to explore the issue safely.

Others may have prior experience with or even been a victim of poor workplace diversity. Your training program will give them the space to share their experiences and provide others with valuable insight into the issue.

One of the main goals of diversity sensitivity in the workplace is helping everyone more clearly see, understand, and celebrate each other’s differences.

3. Helps Attract and Retain Employees

Diversity training in the workplace also benefits employee hiring and retention.

Did you know that 78% of employees value working at an organization that prioritizes diversity? This statistic shows that placing a high value on diversity can directly impact hiring and retaining top talent. Hiring and retaining employees themselves are two things that organizations spend large amounts of time and money on.

Other factors are involved in attracting and keeping valuable employees, but elevating diversity in your organization is one way to do so.

4. Benefits Your Bottom Line

Lastly, diversity training can have a positive effect on your organization’s bottom line.

More diverse workplaces and organizations see increased innovation, engagement, and revenue:

• 19% higher revenue in companies with above-average diversity on management teams
• 83% of millennials are actively engaged when they perceive that their company values diversity and inclusion
• 35% greater financial returns in companies that are in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity

The primary purpose of creating and implementing workplace diversity training is to value individuals and become a more inclusive workplace. But it doesn’t hurt that diversity training in the workplace also leads to increased revenue.

Custom Cultural Diversity Training in the Workplace

Diversity training presents a valuable opportunity for your organization and your employees.

Why do managers need diversity training? Because it empowers them to elevate diversity as a value daily.

How does diversity training in the workplace help employees? Educating employees on diversity helps to address diversity as a value in your company proactively.

What are some of the benefits of diversity training for employees? A diversity training program:

• Normalizes diversity
• Provides open space to talk about diversity
• Helps attract and retain top talent
• Benefits your bottom line

Need help creating a custom diversity training program that suits your needs and engages your employees?

At Unboxed Training & Technology, we’ve dedicated ourselves to making training content that’s personalized and engaging. Our creative team takes the time to get to know you, your company, your brand, and your needs. After all, your company and teams are unique, so your training should be too!

Request a demo of our custom training to see how it engages employees and drives learning.