When running any type of business, it is imperative for leaders to make an active effort to foster environments that are supportive and inclusive, allowing all employees to thrive. Though diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives were once relegated to the sidelines of organizational leadership training, they are now understood as a crucial consideration that strengthens community and contributes to positive change in the world of business and beyond.
Some who pursue Organizational Leadership degrees do so to specifically concentrate on DEI initiatives and causes, investing their work in the pursuit of making businesses more equitable.
Even if you are not a specialist, it is important to consciously invest in your own education in regards to inclusivity, as these issues cannot be navigated by instinct alone.
Fortunately, in recent years, businesses are making a far greater effort to strengthen their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, meaning there are a great deal more resources available to help those in leadership positions think deeply about creating welcoming work environments for all. Take a look at the guide below features to find resources designed to educate business leaders on a variety of perspectives.
Those with Disabilities
Disability:IN is a nonprofit devoted to helping businesses achieve disability equality. Their resources include DEI best practices for businesses, guides to making the workplace more accessible, policy proposals, and more.
Disability Rights Advocates is an organization that focuses on advancing the rights of people with disabilities through advocacy, education, and litigation. Their website features a directory of local organizations that businesses can look up within their own communities for direct support in creating an accommodating environment for employees with disabilities.
This initiative by the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion provides a framework for employers to make their organization as inclusive and accessible as possible for those with disabilities. Their resources outline the core tenets of a disability-inclusive workplace and the steps businesses can take to get there.
The JAN Workplace Accommodation Toolkit
JAN is the Job Accommodation Network, an organization working for equal opportunities and fair work conditions for those with disabilities. Their Workplace Accommodation Toolkit includes specific resources for a variety of company roles, including supervisors and managers, recruiters, and more.
The Kresge Foundation – Disability Inclusion Resource Guide
The Kresge Foundation is a philanthropic organization that provides extensive resources for employers to learn how to best accommodate the needs of employees with disabilities, including those who rely on ASL. These include best practices, workplace inclusion strategies, and other educational primers.
Women
This organization is devoted to building better workplaces for women, working with companies to create more equitable businesses on a structural and interpersonal level. Their resources include workshops, virtual events, written tutorials, and more.
Center for Creative Leadership
The Center for Creative provides leadership development programs for women. Their website includes a variety of articles providing insights on women’s leadership as well as strategies to improve workplace culture.
This extension of LeanIn provides resources designed specifically for businesses seeking to create positive workplace cultures for women. Their resources include materials designed to challenge gender bias, create a culture of allyship, and create a larger network to effect broad-scale change.
This organization is dedicated to empowering women in the workplace all over the world. Their resources put the fight for workplace equality in a global perspective.
This annual report, produced in collaboration between LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company, provides detailed data assessing the state of women in corporate America. It includes best practices for business leaders who want to evaluate their own organizations and develop strategies for supporting women employees.
LGBTQ+
Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index
This resource, created by the Human Rights Campaign, provides a benchmarking tool that shows the status of LGBTQIA+ employees in businesses nationwide, painting a picture of areas of progress as well as enduring or emerging issues in workplaces. It is an excellent tool for business leaders to evaluate their own organizations.
The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
The NGLCC is the country’s largest advocacy organization for LGBTQIA+ people in business. Their index of initiatives provides resources to deal with an array of targeted issues, including the Communities of Color Initiative, the Transgender & Gender Expansive Initiative, and industry-specific councils.
Out & Equal is the foremost nonprofit promoting LGBTQIA+ workplace equality. Their website includes toolkits, guides, and reports for business leaders to learn how to support their queer staff members from an individual to an organizational level.
This organization specifically supports LGBTQIA+ union members, facilitating engagement with the Labor Movement on issues including workplace discrimination and more. This can be a great resource for business leaders working with unions.
The LGBT Inclusion Hub from the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation
This index is provided by the US Chamber Foundation’s Indexing Inclusion initiative, and is designed to help businesses (in particular small businesses) learn best practices for creating a workplace that is LGBTQIA+ inclusive. They also can offer one-on-one support for employers seeking specific guidance.
BIPOC
The HBR features a large number of articles on DEI initiatives broadly, with a particular emphasis on BIPOC experiences in the workplace. These include articles that are specifically written for business leaders to support and advance BIPOC employees in the workplace.
Race Forward: “What Is Racial Equity?”
This guide by Race Forward breaks down key vocabulary all business leaders should know when approaching issues of workplace equity. They also feature webinars, trainings, podcasts, and more.
This organization provides resources for businesses who seek to achieve racial equality. Their offerings include historical research, curricula for DEI training, action plans, and more.
This free daily newsletter offers daily insights and actions to support anti-racism efforts, including resources specifically focused on supporting BIPOC individuals in the workplace and beyond. Their website features comprehensive resources for those looking to specifically improve their company culture, including courses and workshops.
Time’s Up: Building an Anti-Racist Workplace
This initiative from Time’s Up is focused on approaching DEI workplace policies and ending systemic racism in business settings. Their complete guide to equity and inclusion includes insights, strategic proposals, and data-driven context to help employers build an anti-racist organization.
AAPI
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)
The AAJC is a national civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of AAPI communities, with a particular focus on workplace equity. They have numerous programs addressing a wide range of issues affecting Asian Americans.
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
AALDEF is a nonprofit organization that focuses on protecting and promoting the civil rights of Asian Americans. Their website offers a range of resources and toolkits for businesses, including training modules, diversity and inclusion best practices, and legal resources.
Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC)
The APACC is a national organization devoted to supporting Asian American-owned businesses as well as providing resources to uplift AAPI employees across industries. They offer networking events, mentoring programs, and educational resources.
McKinsey: Report on Asian Americans in the Workplace
This report features data-driven insights that show the state of Asian Americans in the workplace and how businesses can help overcome the “invisible barriers” holding back AAPI employees.
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
NAPAWF is an organization that focuses on promoting the rights and interests of Asian American and Pacific Islander women. Their website offers a range of resources, including toolkits for employers and recommendations for inclusive workplace policies.
LatinX
The Cultural Intelligence Center offers training and assessments to help individuals and organizations develop cultural intelligence and better understand the experiences of LatinX employees.
Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE)
HACE is a national non-profit organization that provides LatinX professionals with career advancement resources and training while also providing business leaders DEI resources to help build an equitable workplace.
Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility
HACR is the nation’s largest corporate membership organization advocating for Hispanic inclusion in the areas of employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. They provide research, training, and best practices for employers to support LatinX employees.
Insight Global: Guide to Hispanic Heritage Month
This guide compiles research, strategy proposals, and other workplace insights to help business leaders create welcoming environments for LatinX members of their team as well as suggestions for community-building exercises.
UnidosUS is a civil rights organization that advocates for the rights of the LatinX community. Their resources include DEI training for businesses and other materials to help business leaders support LatinX employees.
Veterans / Active Duty
DAV is a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and support for disabled veterans. They offer resources and training for employers to create accommodations for disabled veterans in the workplace.
This non-profit organization provides career support and employment services to veterans and their families as well as training and resources for employers to create veteran-friendly workplaces. They also host job fairs to help connect companies with veterans seeking new professional opportunities.
Veterans in the Workplace Toolkit
This initiative, from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, provides educational materials to help businesses build veteran-inclusive workplace environments as well as to evaluate their existing organization. They also offer materials such as slideshow presentations to educate other members of your team.
Parents
California Work & Family Coalition
This organization features numerous resources to support working parents, including educational initiatives to help organizations provide supportive and sustainable frameworks for employees who are parents.
This organization’s extensive DEI resources extend to guides to help employers support parents and families in the workplace, accounting for their specific needs and maintaining an equitable environment.
Mental Health Support
Center for Workplace Mental Health
This organization is run by the American Psychiatric Association and is designed to improve workplace conditions for employees with mental health conditions. Their website features extensive resources for employers, including guides and toolkits, webinars, training and turnkey programs, and more.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
This organization supports individuals with mental health issues in all aspects of their life including the workplace. They also provide multimedia resources, training workshops, and more for employers to improve their workplaces for those with mental health needs.
Mental Health America: Workplace Mental Health Toolkit
This guide by Mental Health America is designed to help employers uplift and support employees with mental health concerns and create a work environment that is sensitive to the needs of all employees.
Religion
This guide by the ACLU is an authoritative document offering operational and legal guidance for both employees and employers on religious accommodation in the workplace. It includes an overview of existing policies and a guide on employer responsibilities to their employees.
Anti-Defamation League: Religious Accommodation in the Workplace
This guide by the ADL provides best practices, historical context, and other actionable practices to support and encourage a culture of religious diversity in the workplace.
The Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding: Workplace Resources
This targeted guide by the Tanenbaum Center provides a framework for approaching religious inclusivity in professional settings. It includes steps to accommodate employees’ diverse religious backgrounds as well as metrics for business leaders to evaluate inclusivity in their own organizations.