7 ways to celebrate cultural diversity at work

Celebrate

Wear orange during Harmony Week

To commemorate Harmony Week, the colour Orange was chosen as it signifies social communication, meaningful conversations, the freedom of ideas and mutual respect. Encourage employees to raise awareness and show their support for the cause by wearing orange to work or on video calls during Harmony Week.

Celebrate religious holidays and events

Keep your calendar up to date with cultural and religious holidays and ask employees which holidays they’d like to celebrate. Not only does inclusion fuel team performance, but it also fosters employee satisfaction, success and security. One survey found that employees in inclusive teams are ten times more likely to be very satisfied with their jobs than those in non-inclusive teams.² Utilise the official event planning kit, promotion kit and range of resources for your Harmony Week celebrations.

Change your logo for Harmony Week

Show your support for cultural diversity in the workplace by changing your company logo during Harmony Week. Colour your logo the Harmony Day orange and don’t forget to change it on your intranet, social media platforms and websites for the week.

Educate

Host a trivia quiz

Organise a trivia quiz online and invite staff to participate in a friendly game. This activity can foster open discussions about other cultures and encourage connectivity within the workplace.

Communicate internally

Make use of your internal communication channels (such as your intranet, Slack or Workplace) to educate and involve employees in cultural celebrations. Sharing information about upcoming cultural events can lead to greater understanding among a diverse workforce. Research shows that businesses perform well when employees feel included and their workplace is strongly committed to supporting diversity.³

Support

Invest in employee diversity training

Diversity training is an essential step in fostering a more open workplace culture and chances are, your employees will welcome the initiative. Research states three out of four Australian workers support their organisation’s efforts in creating a workplace that is diverse and inclusive.⁴ Effective diversity training should raise awareness of the importance of working with people from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. Focus on topics such as inclusion, racial sensitivity and unconscious bias.

Support First Nations suppliers

Purchasing products from First Nations organisations is a great way to make a positive impact to communities – many of these organisations also provide sustainable or environmentally friendly options. Look for products from diverse suppliers when shopping online at Winc. We partner with nine certified First Nations brands to help create positive social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. When you buy First Nations products, you are helping to create real change. You can view our comprehensive range of products from First Nations suppliers here.

The future of diversity and inclusion in the workplace relies on ongoing communication and education. Celebrating cultural diversity at work will allow employees to connect and develop a true sense of belonging.