New publication promoting diversity at work
A recent publication by the Centre for Occupational Safety’s service group provides a comprehensive perspective on the importance of diversity in workplaces and guidance on how to take it into account in management and occupational safety and health.
There are more and more people with different backgrounds in work communities across all industries. Diversity in the work community refers not only to the differences between people, but also to the bigger picture.
The Diversity, equality and non-discrimination in the workplace publication looks at diversity in workplaces from different perspectives, such as age, background, language, family situation, work ability and strengths. The purpose of the publication is to support workplaces in promoting equality and non-discrimination and managing and taking diversity into account in occupational safety and health.
“Diversity in the work community is beneficial in many ways. We explain the advantages in the publication. It is important that we include everyone and make it possible to use personal strengths at work,” says Seija Moilanen, Senior Specialist at the Centre for Occupational Safety.
The publication also discusses the importance of psychological safety and how it is established in the work community. It also offers current perspectives such as cultural diversity, anti-racism, changes in work ability, age- and family-friendly work culture and sexual and gender minorities.
“We have also emphasised language awareness. Work communities have many ways to enable and support the development of spoken and written language,” says Moilanen.
The publication also describes the different forms of discrimination and provides instructions for those who feel that they have been discriminated against in working life. The instructions are summarised in a separate checklist.
Discrimination at workplaces is prohibited and it can manifest in many forms. The publication provides practical examples of situations that may be considered to be discrimination in accordance with the Non-Discrimination Act and the Equality Act.
Phenomena and concepts related to the different dimensions of diversity in workplaces are briefly described at the end of the publication. A summary of the legislation on the subject is also included. The publication is available as a free PDF file in Finnish, Swedish and English. The non-discrimination checklist is also available in these languages.
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