How to run an anti-racist business — a DEI expert gives her 4 top tips

Published 2 Min Read

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While diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging have been big buzzwords for employers in the last several years, those words are not always accompanied by effective and lasting changes. What are employers missing?

According to a Gallup survey, only 42% of managers feel they are prepared to have a meaningful conversation about race. For Trudi Lebrón, a DEI business coach and creator of the Institute for Equity Centered Coaching, this survey spells trouble — if managers cannot have a conversation centered around people of color, then it’s likely they’re approaching DEI for every other marginalized group, be it women, LGBTQ-identifying, those with disabilities or veterans, from the wrong lens, she says.

Lebrón stresses the importance of pay transparency. Essentially, workers should be able to discuss their pay with colleagues without fear of punishment — Lebrón describes any discouragement of talks about pay as an inherently oppressive practice. Pay transparency allows employees to know of any disparities in salaries between themselves and their colleagues while keeping employers accountable for wage gaps, she explains. And considering that Black men make 87 cents for every white man’s dollar, and Black women only make 63 cents, companies do need accountability. 

Lebrón also encourages some companies to establish non-negotiable starting salaries.

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


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