We’re thrilled to announce the third season of HR Labs, a podcast that explores how to create a better employee experience for all of your people. This season is hosted by Cornerstone’s Chief Learning Officer and VP of Organizational Effectiveness Jeff Miller and Chief Diversity Officer Duane La Bom. Through conversations with change-makers, activists, executives and experts, they’ll explore strategies for taking diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) initiatives from intention to action. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Following the social justice movements of 2020, many organizations pledged to recommit to their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. But although the business case for diversity and inclusion is stronger than ever, many organizations are still struggling to create a truly equitable and inclusive environment for employees, clients and partners. And in the wake of COVID-19, research finds that diverse populations are still struggling disproportionately: Only one in six diverse employees feels more supported now than before the pandemic.
We know that learning is a critical part of growing and driving change. That’s why we’re sourcing expert voices to share actionable strategies and tactics to help companies make good on their commitments and lay the foundation for years to come. This season, we’ll explore a range of topics—from pay equity to microaggressions to belongingness—and hear from icons like Lilly Ledbetter, specialized experts like Dr. Ella Washington, forward-thinking executives like Lorraine Vargas Townsend and many more.
Check out the trailer to hear more about what you can expect this season. And remember to subscribe to the show wherever you listen to your podcasts to join us for episode one, launching February 3. Together, we’ll build an informed understanding of how best to move DEIB strategies forward to create a better employee experience for everyone at work.
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The Equity Advantage: Why equity matters
In my last article, I unpacked Cornerstone's first DEIB Principle: DEIB is good for everyone, highlighting the story of Ed Roberts, a pioneer for disability inclusion. His work resulted in onramps on public sidewalks at all intersections, enabling the inclusion of those with mobility challenges in public spaces. Just as these onramps created equity and inclusion for people with wheelchairs, organizations must ensure that their talent processes, and the decision-makers who run those processes, create 'onramps' for marginalized people whose talent, aspiration and opportunity are too often 'curbed' by the systemic barriers inherent in our society and organizations.
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The Equity Advantage: Cornerstone’s equity-first approach to DEIB
In July, SHRM announced they are dropping ‘equity’ from their inclusion and diversity framework, citing polarization and misunderstanding about the term. The move ignited a robust dialogue amongst HR professionals about the future of DEIB efforts.
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The Equity Advantage: Why DEIB succeeds and fails
Have you ever heard the proverb “May you live in interesting times?” On its face, it reads as a blessing, but the irony is that living in interesting times can feel more like a burden. We certainly are living in interesting times – a time where the world order as we know it feels imperiled, the future of humanity is at risk due to climate change, fact and fiction are harder than ever to distinguish due to social media, polarization seems to force more and more of us into our own echo-chambers, and workforces and workplaces are changing rapidly due to AI, automation, and societal shifts.