Back In Motion: Empowering a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
By Stefanie Neth
Diversity may be the hardest thing for a society to live with, and perhaps the most dangerous thing for a society to be without. ~ William Sloane Coffin, Jr.
Research indicates that many organizations continue to view the existence of diversity simply in terms of legal compliance and human rights protection (Cox, 2001), but it actually involves an organizational change that includes implementing initiatives that will help create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
“Creating a positive environment in which individual differences can be explored and moving beyond simple tolerance to celebrating diversity can result in [employees] reaching their potential and making valuable contributions to the organization’s strategic goals and objectives.” (Patrick & Kumar, 2012)
Diversity Committee Aims For “Respect For All, Always”
For over 20 years, Back in Motion has been dedicated to helping people overcome barriers and reach their full employment potential—delivering rehabilitation, disability management and employment services, while serving 10 communities across Metro Vancouver. With the support of Back in Motion’s executive team, the Diversity Committee was created and is currently made up of 15 employees who volunteer their time to help champion the cause.
The committee has implemented several important initiatives since its inception in February 2014, including diversity and inclusion policy development, diversity and inclusion onboarding training as well as lunch and learns for all staff including managers and HR professionals. The committee also created a quarterly newsletter, Diversity in Motion, to help distribute knowledge and resources as well as organize events to spread cultural awareness such as “Taste of Culture” potlucks.
The committee’s primary goal is to uphold Back in Motion’s core value of “respect for all, always,” as it relates to our staff, clients and other stakeholders.
Diversity Conference attendees share views and experiences at Burnaby Neighbourhood House on April 21, 2015.
The committee’s latest initiative was the Diversity Conference for Back in Motion staff and partners working in both employment and rehabilitation services. With more than 65 people in attendance, the event was held at the Burnaby Neighbourhood House in Burnaby, BC on April 21, 2015. Conference presenters spoke on a variety of topics including:
- creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ community;
- managing unconscious bias in a multi-generational workforce;
- working with clients in a multicultural context; and
- religious and spiritual diversity in the workplace.
Participants had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss workplace scenarios related to the conference topics. The goal was to help participants gain practical tools and resources that will improve the quality of service and ultimately create a diverse and inclusive workplace for both employees and clients. Overall, the conference provided a great space for learning, sharing ideas, and helping combat stereotypes and biases.
Discovering Diversity’s Potential
Employers need to take a more active role in meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse workforce. Cox (2001), who specializes in organizational change, says, “the challenge of diversity is not simply to have it, but to create conditions in which its potential to be a performance barrier is minimized and its potential to enhance performance is maximized.”
For more information on Back in Motion and its Diversity Committee, please visit our website at or contact us at diversity@backinmotion.com
Stefanie Neth, MA, CCDP is the diversity coordinator at Back in Motion. She recently completed her Master’s Degree in Intercultural and International Communication through Royal Roads University. For her master’s thesis, she conducted research on how BC employers are helping their immigrant workforce adapt to the Canadian workplace culture. She also developed curriculum for a course that she is currently teaching at Langara College in Vancouver, BC on Foundations of Intercultural Communication. Stefanie is very passionate about working with people from all over the world and learning about their different cultures, as well as educating employers on the benefits of hiring immigrants.
