Organisations should strive to be inclusive towards all of their staff as individuals, including those who are underrepresented in their workforce.
Research shows that women, ethnic minority groups, neurodiverse people and other minority groups are less likely to speak up and socially engage within organisations and lose out accordingly.
Furthermore, as one interviewee at a local authority said, “Our workplaces have been designed for extroverts”. Those who are loud and can play office politics thrive and those who do not feel socially confident miss out on career opportunities and development.
Creating a culture of inclusion, therefore, needs to start with a focus on including all individuals, of all personalities and backgrounds.
