Being seen, heard, valued, respected, and appreciated – which is the essence of inclusion – are fundamental human needs. These needs don’t end at home; they extend to the workplace as well. Several studies have proven that inclusion can greatly benefit organizations. For example, Google’s Project Aristotle set out to discover what makes teams successful. After studying 180 teams within Google and hundreds of team attributes, they concluded that psychological safety, which is the basis of true inclusion, is the number one factor impacting the success of a team. We know that when employees feel included and valued, they are more engaged in their work; attrition and absenteeism come down; and there is a boost in productivity and innovation.
Yet, DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) has been facing strong opposition, particularly in the West. Many companies have done away with DEI policies, practices and teams. Why is this happening?
- Misunderstanding of what DEI entails: Many companies in the West have reduced DEI to diversity-focused hiring, creating the wrong perception that DEI kills merit.
- Financial constraints: DEI initiatives require some financial investment, which becomes challenging for companies in times of economic instability.
- Uncertainty about the positive impact of inclusion: The impact of inclusive action is not always tangible, making organizations question whether it’s really beneficial.
How can these challenges be overcome? By:
- Gaining a clear understanding of what true inclusion entails and how solid inclusive initiatives help to nurture merit.
- Implementing budget-friendly ways to promote inclusion and psychological safety.
- Tracking DEI metrics and measuring its impact.
- Adopting customized inclusive solutions after detailed audits and the integration of feedback from different stakeholders.
It’s heartening to note that India Inc largely understands the power of inclusion – As per a dipstick survey by Avtar in February 2025, where inputs were gathered from a mix of 44 Indian-origin, US-headquartered, and non-US multinational companies, 71% of the companies stated that they embrace DEI initiatives to promote a strong and sensitive work culture.
Let’s work together to leverage the amazingly diverse talent that India has! The DEI Conversation will continue, because inclusion is the cornerstone of a well-functioning unit. No organization, small or big, can afford to reject it.
