A Tulsa Regional Chamber survey on businesses’ diversity practices is out now.
Mosaic, the chamber’s diversity council, says inclusive workplaces have a competitive advantage and may even have fewer safety incidents.
ONEOK Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Justice Waidner Smith explained what workplace diversity means.
"It includes diversity of race, culture, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, veteran status or class," Smith said. "So it's a broad, broad definition around diversity and making sure we're trying to include all people."
There are five key measures: commitment of CEO and senior leadership, supplier diversity, diverse people in workforce, internal policies, and community relationships and outreach.
Mosaic is seeing improvements year to year. The percentage of respondents with a policy of hiring diverse employees increased from 77 percent in 2013 to 79 in 2014.
Bama Companies was among last year’s top inclusive workplaces, but Development Officer Isaac Rocha said even executives there feared a revolt when rolling out policies on sexual orientation and partner benefits.
"So, when we rolled it out, guess what did not happen? No revolt at Bama," Rocha said. "It was like nothing had changed, nothing had happened. It was not a big deal. And I think that within the subject, we get fearful, and we have to accept that we're going to fall a little bit and that's OK."
The Mosaic survey is online until Aug. 10.
