WorkPride day four: panel recap and best bits

Day four of WorkPride 2024 continued to engage participants in stimulating discussions and panels aimed at advancing diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace. Here is a summary of the panels that took place.

Inclusive Language: Promoting Respectful Communication

The day began with a focus on promoting respectful communication through inclusive language, emphasizing the importance of fostering an environment where all individuals feel valued and respected.

“Inclusive language avoids bias, be it conscious or unconscious. And inclusion allows us all to feel like we belong, and we connect. Inclusion should be at the heart of all our policies. - Christine Budhan-Mills, She Creates Female Builder and Educator

“Language is so powerful. It’s almost a bit of a paradox of sorts, in that it can create safety, but it can also create harm as well.” - Christina Peach, Fleishman Hillard

Creating Inclusive Workplaces for People of Ethnically Diverse Backgrounds

The session on creating inclusive workplaces for people of ethnically diverse backgrounds delved into strategies for promoting diversity and equity within organizational structures, highlighting the significance of representation and inclusivity.

“A really easy way to just keep an eye on what's happening in the world of people of color, people of faith, of different cultures, is just to have a calendar together that reflects all these different holidays of people in your team to really make them feel reflected. And also, beyond that as well, you're just generally educating yourself on different cultures.” - Sabah Choudrey, Freelance

“The good thing about reverse mentoring is that it empowers younger people to speak up. Sometimes, some people may not feel that they have enough power or authority to do something like that." - Raquel Flórez Escobar, Freshfields

Combatting Hate Speech and Discrimination Online

Combatting hate speech and discrimination online took center stage in the next panel, where participants discussed the impact of online behavior on perpetuating harmful ideologies and explored ways to promote a more inclusive and safe digital space for all.

“Free speech doesn't mean you're free from consequences. Hate speech can incite acts of violence that actually infringe on the victim’s rights. There is a greater moral imperative to protect against those acts of violence and you can do that easily by regulating against hate speech.” - Carly Peterson, Charles River