Diversity and inclusion, or D&I, is not only a hot topic of public conversation but it is increasing in its organizational priority and focus with many searching beyond the rhetoric for practical solutions. And it seems everyone believes they are a D&I expert looking to provide advice, which many companies are readily engaging. Most recently, however, highly publicized and unfortunate events of race, gender, disability and other bias perpetuated by employees toward customers (as well as co-workers) show that even the most sophisticated and well-intentioned companies are wrestling with effective implementation of D&I-oriented policies, training and programming. This leaves many within and outside the field recognizing that successful implementation of D&I initiatives may not be as easy as we think.

There could be a myriad of reasons why a company’s D&I initiative is not working successfully or at all. Here are a few.

  • Organizations, including its lawyers, may not understand the distinctions between equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action and D&I so the program struggles.