Dr Giriraj Kiradoo Associate Professor

ISBN: 978-93-91248-39-0 147 
Advance Research in Social Science and Management
Theme: 05 Challenges to Promote DEI in Workplace:
 
Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace is critical today. While 
progress has been done over the years, significant challenges remain to overcome to achieve true 
DEI. Following paragraphs will explore some of the challenges organisations face when 
promoting DEI in the workplace.
Challenge 1: Lack of Diversity at the Top
 
One of the biggest challenges to promoting DEI in the workplace is the lack of diversity at the 
top of organisations. While many organisations have tried to diversify their workforce, the 
number of women and minorities in executive positions remains low. This lack of diversity at the 
top can create a culture where DEI is not a priority and can limit opportunities for 
underrepresented groups.
Organisations need to prioritise diversity at all levels, including leadership positions, to address 
this challenge. This can be achieved by implementing programs supporting underrepresented 
groups' development and advancement, such as mentoring and sponsorship programs.
Challenge 2: Unconscious Bias
 
Another challenge to promoting DEI in the workplace is unconscious bias. Unconscious bias 
refers to individuals' subtle, often unintentional, biases towards certain groups. These biases can 
manifest in hiring decisions, promotions, and performance evaluations, among other areas.
To address unconscious bias, organisations can provide training to employees on recognising and 
overcoming their biases. Additionally, organisations can implement blind hiring practices, where 
personal identifying information is removed from job applications to lessen the impact of 
unconscious bias in the hiring process.