Delivering a great employee experience and creating an inclusive workplace is crucial for organizations that are currently struggling with talent acquisition. Following the Pandemic, the workforce is searching for companies that not only compensate them fairly but also value them and care for their health and well-being. An Inclusive design allows businesses to access new opportunities from the labor pool without focusing too much on individual needs.
Inclusive design is creating a work environment that is comfortable and versatile for everybody, with the understanding that comfort will mean various things to different people.
Inclusive design for all individuals includes design solutions that address gender identity, race, ability, age, neurodiversity, socioeconomic situation, and cultural demands. It takes into account how these needs intersect and provides spaces that are convenient and comfortable for everyone.
According to a survey from Harvard Business Review, here are some of the significant findings on the benefits of inclusion and belonging in the workplace:
- 40% of people say they feel isolated at work and the result of that isolation is lower organizational commitment and engagement.
- High belonging is linked to 56% increase in job performance, 50% decrease in turnover risk, and a 75% reduction in sick days (a 10,000-person company would result in an annual savings of $52 million).
- Employees with higher workplace belonging showed a 167% increase in employer promoter scores. (1)
In order to create an inclusive workplace, here are some of the design principles to be considered by the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment UK:
People at the center of the design process
Spaces and buildings should be designed and built so that people may utilize them to generate strong, dynamic, and sustainable communities. Make sure to include as many individuals as possible in the design process. This will benefit everyone’s own well-being, social integration, and enjoyment.
Inclusive design supports diversity and equity
Good design can only be achieved if the environment produced fulfills the demands of as many individuals as possible. An Inclusive design embraces people’s differences and should not create disabling obstacles.
Inclusive design provides an option
An inclusive environment does not try to accommodate every demand. However, by taking into consideration people’s diversity, it is possible to break down barriers and exclusion and frequently produce greater solutions that benefit everyone.
A design embraces everyone on equal terms by using the same high design standards to fulfill the access requirements of all users.
Flexibility in use
Meeting the principles of inclusive design necessitates an awareness of how the building or space will be utilized and who will use it. Places must be constructed to be adaptable to shifting usage and needs.
Easy to use and enjoyable for everyone
Making environments easy to use for everyone means considering signage, lighting, visual contrast, and materials. Access to buildings is more than just a matter of physical layout. It also requires individuals to have enough knowledge, usually before leaving their house, to feel confident enough to enter a building or space. (2)
The built environment plays a role in eliminating, minimizing, and managing workplace marginalization. If the environment is not inclusive, employees will not feel supported in the workplace.
Although it’s hard to define workplace inclusion, almost everyone has experienced exclusion. The goal of inclusive design is to eliminate obstacles to inclusion caused by the built environment.
