Work culture is among the more difficult aspects of the workplace to identify in a tangible, concrete, and objective manner – partially due to its quality as a moving target. It is a collection of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that make up the regular atmosphere in a work environment. It can vary based on the individual experiencing and interpreting it. Work culture can also change based on a variety of factors, including the specific people present, their roles and shifting circumstances in their lives, as well as evolving policies, workload, and information provided to employees about the organization or department.

There are several aspects that influence work culture beyond the two highlighted in this section. Two of the factors that contribute significantly to work culture and merit further training are Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Bias.

More information relating to work culture in general and as relating specifically to DEI and Bias are provided in the resource section to further develop training for your organization.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Studies have shown that groups of people who are diverse in gender, race, age, and abilities perform better, make better decisions, and increase retention. Diversity in the workplace goes beyond race, and includes unseen factors such as economic background, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, religion, physical abilities, geographic or political background, and education, among other qualities and characteristics.

A team that consists of diverse members is better able to consider multiple perspectives, identify blind spots, develop new approaches, and provide better solutions. Innovation, performance, growth, and satisfaction are among the outcomes. Diverse organizations are also better situated to provide service to their customers and stakeholders.

Resources for developing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training for your organization are provided in the resource section.

Bias

Having a basic understanding of bias is essential to improving communication as well as analysis and decision-making. Unconscious bias relates to beliefs or stereotypes held about a certain group of people without awareness of having the bias. Bias comes in many forms, including those related to race, gender, age, physical abilities, appearance, political beliefs, regional background, education, religion, and many other categories.

Bias can be harmful to the workplace by hindering relationships, communication, employee experience and performance, and creating conflict.

There are many guides related to bias awareness and training. Some of those resources are provided in the appendix for you to create a program suited for your workplace.

Articles

Work Culture

• Workhuman.com. August 23, 2022 Blog, “Workplace Culture: What Is it and Why Is it Important in 2023?”
• Factorialhr.com. June 15, 2023 Blog, “Work Culture: Definition, Types and Tips to Improve It.”
• Valamis.com. December 27, 2022, “Human Resources: Work Culture.”
• Builtin.com. October 11, 2022, “What Is Work Culture? 11 Ways to Build a Positive Environment.”
• Managementstudyguide.com. “Work Culture – Meaning, Importance & Characteristics of a Healthy Culture.”
• Betterup.com. September 26, 2022. “What is company culture and how do you develop it?”

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Betterup.com. Cooks-Campbell, Allaya. “What diversity really means, and why it’s crucial in the workplace.” May 24, 2023.
• Coursera.org. “Why Is Diversity Important in the Workplace?” June 15, 2023.
• Greatplacetowork.com. Bush, Matt. “Why Is Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace Important?” April 13, 2021.
• Hivelife.com. Yip, Myra. “12 Reasons Why Diversity is Important in the Workplace.” July 2, 2020.
• Smallbusiness.chron.com. Mayhew, Ruth. “Why Is Diversity in the Workplace Important to Employees?” February 12, 2019.

Bias

• Easyllama.com. “How Does Unconscious Bias Affect the Workplace? Everything You Need to Know.”
• Ylai.state.gov. Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, Amanda Hinojosa, Howard University. October 17, 2019. “Understanding and Recognizing Bias in the Workplace.”
• Impactgrouphr.com. Leadership Development. “Unconscious Bias at Work: How It’s Affecting Your Workplace.”
• Getimpactly.com. “Implicit Bias in the Workplace: Everything You Need to Know.”
• Knowledgecity.com. “How Does Unconscious Bias Affect the Workplace?”
• Hibob.com. “What is unconscious bias in the workplace?”

Books

Workplace Culture

• Coyle, Daniel. “The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups.” Bantam. (January 30, 2018).
• Federman, Brad. “Cultivating Culture: 101 Ways to Foster Engagement in 15 Minutes or Less.” Matt Holt.  (March 1, 2022).
• Friedman, Ron. “The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace.” TarcherPerigee. (December 1, 2015).
• Grieser, Randy, Eric Stutzman, et. al. “The Culture Question: How to Create a Workplace Where People Like to Work.” ACHIEVE Publishing. (March 5, 2019).
• GAME: “Working Together: Conversations for Cultivating Workplace Wellbeing.” Healthy Convo Co. (2022).

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Berrett-Koehler Publishers (August 30, 2022).
• Brown, Jennifer. “How to Be an Inclusive Leader: Your Role in Creating Cultures of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive.” Berrett-Koehler Publishers (October 4, 2022).
• Brown, Jennifer. “Inclusion: Diversity, The New Workplace & The Will To Change.” Publish Your Purpose Press (June 8, 2017).
• Catlin, Karen and Sally McGraw. “Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces.” Better Allies Press (January 11, 2021).
• Guzman, Monica. “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times.” BenBella Books (March 8, 2022).
• Hollins, Caprice D. “Inside Out: The Equity Leader’s Guide to Undoing Institutional Racism.” New Society Publishers (November 1, 2022).
• Jana, Tiffany and Michael Baran. “Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions.” Berrett-Koehler Publishers (March 10, 2020).
• Johnson, Stefanie K. “Inclusify: The Power of Uniqueness and Belonging to Build Innovative Teams.” Harper Business (June 2, 2020).
• Jones-Fosu, Justin. “The Inclusive Mindset: How to Cultivate Diversity in Your Everyday Life.” Peter Jones Publishing (March 20, 2021).
• Oluo, Ijeoma. “So You Want to Talk About Race.” Seal Press (September 24, 2019).
• Perry, Rhodes. “Belonging At Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization.” Bowker Identifier Services (November 8, 2018).
• Robbins, Steve. “What If?: Short Stories to Spark Inclusion & Diversity Dialogue.” Nicholas Brealey (November 6, 2018).
• Tulshyan, Ruchika. “Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work.” The MIT Press (March 1, 2022).
• Warren, Celeste R. “How to be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador: Everyone’s Role in Helping All Feel Accepted, Engaged, and Valued.”
• Wilson, Kim. “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace: Developing DEI Solutions.” Independently published (February 24, 2023).
• Winters, Mary-Frances. “We Can’t Talk About That at Work!” Berrett-Koehler Publishers (April 23, 2017).
• Zheng, Lily. “DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doint It Right.”  Berrett-Koehler Publishers (November 8, 2022).

Bias

• Banaji, Mahzarin R. and Anthony G. Greenwald. “Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People.” Random House Publishing Group (August 16, 2016).
• Fuller, Pamela, Mark Murphy, and Anne Chow. “The Leader’s Guide to Unconscious Bias: How to Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams.” Simon & Schuster (November 10, 2020).
• Eberhardt, Jennifer L. “Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do.” Penguin Books (March 3, 3030).
• Gordon, Stacey A. “UNBIAS: Addressing Unconscious Bias at Work.” Wiley (March 30, 2021).
• Kramer, Andrea S. and Alton B. Harris. “Beyond Bias: The PATH to End Gender Inequality at Work.” Nicholas Brealey (May 16, 2023).
• Kramer, Andrea S. and Alton B. Harris. “It’s Not You It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias that Built It.” Nicholas Brealey (August 27, 2019).
• Williams, Bari A. “Diveristy in the Workplace: Eye-Opening Interviews to Jumpstart Conversations about Identity, Privilege, and Bias.” Rockridge Press (March 31, 2020).

Videos

Workplace Culture

• The Best Company Culture For Your Organization
• What are the Characteristics of a Great Company Culture?
• Organizational Culture: Best Practices & Examples
• The Impact Corporate Culture has on Employee Experience
• The 4 Keys to a Positive Corporate Culture
• Values Come to Life: Transforming your Company Culture with Action

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• How to get serious about diversity and inclusion in the workplace: Janet Stovall: TED.
• Modern strategies to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in today’s workplace.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Learning how to get it right. Asif Sadiq. TEDxCroydon.
• Belonging, A Critical Piece of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Carin Taylor. TEDxSonomaCounty.
• The Difference between Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.

Bias

• Implicit Bias: Concepts Unwrapped
• What is Unconscious Bias?
• Micro-Aggressions in the Workplace
• TED TALKS LIVE Short – Unconscious Bias
• Implicit Bias in Action
• Implicit Bias – how it effects us and how we push through: Melanie Funchess: TEDxFlourCity
• Unconscious bias: Sterotypical hiring practices: Gail Tolstoi-Miller: TEDxLincolnSquare
• How to check your unconscious bias – Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt: Global Goals
• Unconscious Bias – does it impact your decision?