Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy explains how your organization will build an inclusive workplace beyond baseline legal requirements. It describes the programs, practices, and accountability tools you use to reduce bias, expand access to opportunity, and support belonging, such as training, employee resource groups, inclusive hiring practices, and progress metrics.

How to Write a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Policy

• Start with "why" and introduce the concept.
• State your organization's commitment to a workplace that values diversity, promotes equity, and supports inclusion.
• Reinforce that discrimination, harassment, and retaliation are prohibited and that equal opportunity applies across employment decisions.
• Describe how you'll build inclusive skills and awareness through training and resources.
• Commit to reducing bias in hiring, performance evaluation, and promotion practices.
• Encourage open dialogue and ongoing learning about inclusion and belonging.
• Set the expectation that everyone contributes to an inclusive, respectful workplace culture.

DEI policies work best when they're written and implemented as inclusive workplace practices. The goal is to remove barriers, expand fair access to opportunity, and create a workplace where everyone can contribute and succeed. Design programs and practices to support inclusion and belonging broadly, and base employment decisions on job related criteria.

Thinking of DEI as support for only historically underrepresented groups can create real legal risk. Be sure to write DEI commitments so all employees can access programs and opportunities on equal terms, without excluding anyone based on demographic characteristics. You can still focus on reducing barriers and improving representation, but do it through inclusive practices and job related decision making.
 

For advice on writing a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion policy in a specific jurisdiction, see below.