Amid economic uncertainty, many leaders are facing pressure to prioritize organizational efficiency and customer-facing roles. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) jobs have been hit particularly hard by widespread layoffs this year, and many companies no longer have a dedicated DEI budget. Even more concerning is that reductions in force (RIFs) often have an outsized impact on women and underrepresented groups.
Now is not the time to walk back DEI commitments. Expanding the diversity of your company is not only the right thing to do, it’s a business imperative. Diverse teams are shown to outperform homogenous ones, have better problem-solving abilities and even drive higher revenue from increased innovation. There are also major reputational consequences for companies who stop or walk back DEI commitments. The whisper network is powerful. Once a company is known for lacking inclusion, it’s tough to recover. It also sends mixed messages to your existing workforce.
