03 Mar 2025

How to supercharge DE&I policies

In today's rapidly evolving world, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are more than just buzzwords—they are essential components of a thriving workplace. A recent UK article from PRWeek highlighted the importance of strengthening DE&I policies to formulate BIPOC diversity strategies for more inclusive environments.

They spoke to some of the leading exponents from the PR agency and client sides of the sector to uncover strategies that are working in building authentic diversity within comms organisations.

Note: Not a term used much in Ireland, BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This term emphasises the unique experiences and challenges faced by these groups, particularly in the context of systemic racism and discrimination. By focusing on BIPOC, organisations can address specific injustices and work towards creating a more equitable environment.

Here are some key takeaways from the interviews:

Diversity isn’t just about people of colour or the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s about everyone.
Varied backgrounds and people from different generations are an essential part of a diverse workforce.
Make employees active participants in building DE&I initiatives. When rolling out new Employee Resource Groups (ERGs - voluntary, employee-led groups that foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with the organisations they serve), survey and speak to employees about what they want — don’t just drop programmes on them.
With every decision, ask “Is this inclusive?” Truly infusing DE&I into everyday operations necessitates an ‘always-on’ approach. For example, diversity should stretch into the supply chain.
Widen the pool of candidates you’re hiring from. Partner with third-party organisations committed to advancing DE&I or set up programmes to help employees with transferable skills move into PR.
When recruiting BIPOC talent, hiring managers and executives must be willing to divert from what they are used to.
Identify inclusive language and guidance for ethical storytelling.

Click here to read the full article.