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Inclusivity & Diversity: What’s in an Acronym?

If you’ve ever read or seen Romeo & Juliet, you’re familiar with the line “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet…” Yet when it comes to discussions of diversity, inclusion, and equity, there’s been a lot of movement around the terminology. Most recently SHRM made waves by dropping the E and going to I&D. This examination of the evolution of the names used also addresses what it all means for the work to create genuinely inclusive environments. The civil rights movement of the 1960s is largely viewed as the starting point of today’s focus on workplace diversity. This included: Equal Pay Act which in 1963 aimed to create a more equitable workplace Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibiting discrimination in hiring and promotion Age Discrimination in Employment Act, passed in 1967, to create a more equitable workplace 1973’s Rehabilitation Act fostering inclusivity for individuals with disabilities As a result of these laws focused on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, companies began incorporating more diversity training and working to integrate their office environments without discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or other distinctions. The business impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion Research is plentiful today supporting the value of diversity and how it affects how well people do their jobs. In its late 2023 report, Diversity Matters Even More, McKinsey & Company found the business case for these efforts is increasing. For example: […]