Long story short: Are your DEI efforts missing the mark?

November 18, 2022 1:17 PM

Employers have good intentions when it comes to their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, but for a lot of employees, it's falling short.

In this week's top stories, the EBN team took a hard look at DEI across industries and revealed that while employers think they're prioritizing programs that help all employees, the reality is far from the truth. From programs that exclude Hispanic employees, to care gaps for BIPOC workers, there's plenty more to do to create a more equal workplace for all.

While it will take work, the payoff is well worth it: exclusive research from EBN's parent company, Arizent, reveals that companies that invest in DEI see much higher performance from all employees, positively impacting their bottom line.

Read more: The truth about DEI

And supported employees are happier employees — both mentally and physically. Offering inclusive and accessible benefits can help bridge mental health care gaps between white and BIPOC employees, and help all employees feel like their company supports their well-being.

Check out all of our top stories on the benefits of DEI:

Not investing in DEI? That decision could cost your company

Diversity in the workplace — or the lack thereof — has been a hot button issue for decades. But in recent years, the call for companies to take action and create equity in professional settings has reached a fever pitch. As employers continue to battle a challenging talent market, it's clear they must make changes to build productive workforces and sustainable success.

Associate editor Paola Peralta breaks down exclusive research from Arizent, EBN's parent company, to reveal where employers are falling short — and what they stand to gain by investing in DEI programs that support a diverse workplace.

Read more:

Not investing in DEI? That decision could cost your company

Mental health has a race issue: How misdiagnosis is impacting Black employees

Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar and schizophrenia are notoriously misdiagnosed: according to the National Institutes of Health, major depressive disorder is misdiagnosed nearly 66% of the time; bipolar is misdiagnosed nearly 93% of the time, and anxiety disorder has a misdiagnosis rate of 71%.

A misdiagnosis can start with implicit biases that impact the way a clinician engages with Black patients, says Dr. Reshawna Chapple, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist at Talkspace. Chapple shares how healthcare providers can challenge these biases to provide culturally competent care.

Read more:

Mental health has a race issue: How misdiagnosis is impacting Black employees

Why have DEI efforts let Hispanic women down?

The Hispanic community and BIPOC as a whole are often grouped together along with their needs and their challenges. While women of color often share similar concerns and experiences, employers may be missing out on critical context.

"Latinos are often lumped into a monolith, and people don't understand the great intersectionality at play," Victoria Park, director of communications at Black-owned media marketing company Hero Collective, tells associate editor Deanna Cuadra. "I'm half Puerto Rican, but I have been afforded the privilege to live my life as a white woman because that's how I'm perceived. I do strongly identify with my culture, but my perspective can be different."

Read more:

Why have DEI efforts let Hispanic women down?

Doulas boost maternal health outcomes, according to an analysis of Medicaid data

Insurance provider Elevance Health examined the outcomes from doula services in affiliated Medicaid plans across California, Florida and New York. The findings revealed those with doulas had fewer in-patient admissions to the hospital, less likelihood of preterm births and lower odds of postpartum depression and anxiety.

Unlike a midwife, a doula is not clinically trained and does not deliver the baby, but instead serves as a companion and educator to the birthing parent. And that companionship can make a world of a difference, especially for Black and indigenous women who are often discriminated against and dismissed in the U.S. healthcare system.

Read more:

Doulas boost maternal health outcomes, according to an analysis of Medicaid data