For this assignment, imagine you have been hired as the new Diversity & Inclusion Specialist in the Human
Resources (HR) department of your current company or another company of your choosing. One of the first
tasks you are given is to create a Diversity Proposal for your manager in response to an anonymous complaint
(below) that was recently submitted to the HR suggestion box:
Complaint: I have been working here for 4 years. I am tired of watching the same “Diversity in the Workplace”
20-minute training video each January in order to satisfy the company’s annual diversity training requirement.
Nothing around here shows that this company values diversity. As one of a few people of color at this
company, I feel like I’m just here to increase diversity numbers so that the company “looks good” on paper.
When are we going to actually do something to recognize all types of diversity? There are more aspects to
diversity, besides race, that make individuals unique.
Create a 500- to 800-word Diversity Proposal that addresses the following questions:
What is the business case or proposition for recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion?
How can we create a company mission and company goals to outwardly express and reinforce our
commitment to diversity and inclusion? What might our mission statement say to express our commitment?
What are at least two short-term actions (less than 6 months) that the company can take to immediately
address some of the concerns expressed in the anonymous complaint?
What are at least two long-term actions (6 months to 2 years) that the company can take to address some of
the concerns expressed in the anonymous complaint?
How can the company enhance its current annual employee diversity training? Why is this training important?
What initiatives can the company implement to celebrate diversity beyond race?
How can these initiatives bring employees together to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion?
What other suggestions do you have to improve workplace culture and messaging around diversity and
inclusion?