Organizational Approaches and Communication Practices to Support DEI in the Italian Workplace
摘要
This chapter explores how organisations understand and practise DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) with a focus on the internal and external communication that supports DEI efforts. Nowadays organisations feel compelled to put DEI on the agenda in response to socio-demographic trends, best practices of multinational companies, the common goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, societal expectations of responsible behaviour, and employee expectations in terms of work–life balance and psychological safety. The present work responds to the lack of studies on the critical role that communication plays in crafting a DEI strategy and presenting it authentically and consistently to stakeholders inside and outside the organisation. Moreover, it contributes empirical evidence rooted in the Italian context, considering the lack of studies outside the US and the influence of the macro-national context on the way DEI is perceived and responded to by organisations. The main results of a longitudinal study conducted in Italy are therefore presented, showing how Italian organisations have concretised their DEI efforts in recent years, with DEI-related communication, and internal communication in particular, playing a key role. Building on the findings of this study and a review of international research, the chapter concludes with considerations for developing a DEI communication strategy that effectively supports an organisation’s priorities and needs both internally and externally.