ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - Local businesses learned more ways to improve workplace inclusion at the Chamber of Commerce's Wake Rattle and Roll breakfast.
Chamber members heard from Dr. L. Renee Bradley with Rhodes State who shared several methods for area businesses to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion or DEI initiatives. The rise of "Black Lives Matter" and the death of George Floyd in 2020 became a new launching pad for companies to re-examine their core diversity goals. Businesses that are committed to growing their DEI in today's society can attract top talent and encourage the retention of employees. Dr. Bradley says companies need to lean on their employees as they build their diversity goals.
"We want employees to feel like they are a part of this DEI process, not that these things are being done just because we made up some great rules and information and now why aren't you happy. We're not happy because we haven't felt included as being part of the process. We want to be able to as employees to sit down with our leaders, voice our opinions, and have our opinions to be heard," says Dr. L. Renee Bradley, Special Assistant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Rhodes State College.
Dr. Bradley adds that having a diversity and inclusion statement is a great starting point, but employees and executive members should work together to meet those values and remain open to change.
