This research proposal will focus on inclusive policy design and usage in the workplace. According to UNESCO, inclusive policy is concerned with adequate inclusion of all parties in the process of policy design and delivery and, at the same time, with producing the outcome of inclusion. Put simply, it is inclusive in both means and ends. Both concerns count equally (2015). Now, this is a more broad subject, inclusive design can be applied to nearly every aspect of policy making, in both governmental and corporal settings. This research proposal will focus on applying inclusive policy design in the workplace and using it to combat exclusivity. In the workplace, I feel that sometimes the policy design decisions in a work environment have the potential to include or exclude employees in the workforce. This way, we can be sure that all employees will be treated equally in the workplace regardless of their education, position, level of experience within that position, and background.
According to Amy Pothier, companies are planning changes in the workplace to ensure that their employees feel safe and supported. For these companies and others who are looking to compete in the war for talent by delivering a positive employee experience, inclusive design is a critical consideration (2021). Pothier’s article will provide great insight into what inclusive design would look like in a corporate setting, how companies may implement these designs, and why. Now, when we think of policy design, we typically would think of public policy design; policies typically implemented by a governing body like the U.S Congress. However, we can also apply policy design in a corporate setting as well. Regardless of who is creating the policy, measures must be made to ensure that these policies are of an inclusive design. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, in an inclusive approach to public policies, equity and fairness considerations are introduced by looking at the impact of various policy options on different groups in society. Inclusive government processes also allow civil society and the wider public to be involved in policy making, regulation and service delivery (2013) This source provided by OECD will provide wonderful examples and insight into the world of policy making. This will allow me to see how inclusive policy is formed in the public setting so that I can provide comparison on how such policies may be formed and implemented in the corporate setting.
I believe this topic is worth exploring because I feel that in this day in age, there is and should be no reason why policies implemented by an organization should exclude any one of its employees from whatever the policy involves. All employees should have access to every opportunity regardless of their position, level of experience, education, and background. I am personally and professionally interested in this topic because I have experienced this in my own workplace. The experience was more toward my education and level of experience rather than my background. I would honestly call what I experienced nepotism and a form of classism due to not having finished my college education, which I am clearly working on. The problem that must be solved is that many organizations have not adjusted their policies to fit this day in age. An age of uncertainty, fear, security, and economic hardship. Instead of providing their employees with the tools they need to better their skills and experiences in order to move on up and forward, employees are having to leave their place of employment because they cannot move up, they feel stuck. Addressing the issue of inclusive policy design and usage will open doors to all employees to such opportunities to excel and grow so that they do not feel like they have to leave in order to better themselves.
As I finish writing this proposal, I look back on what I have learned from this assignment. In doing the research for this, I have noticed that this topic has been discussed in greater depth in many scholarly articles, as well as many popular press articles. It shows that this topic is important to many in the workplace as well as in the other areas that policy is formed and implemented. We are tired of being held back and blocked from excelling to our full potential in jobs that we do indeed enjoy, jobs that we would hate to leave because of exclusivity in all forms. It calls back to what we discussed in Module 3 about Ethics. Exclusivity being unethical in all its forms. Times have changed, the world is never going to be the same, and I think our policies must reflect that change.
SOURCES:
OECD (2015), “Inclusive government for a more inclusive society”, in Government at a Glance 2015, OECD Publishing, Paris. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/gov_glance-2015-6-en
Pothier, A. (2021, December 2). Why inclusive design is a critical advantage in the war for talent. Gensler. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.gensler.com/blog/why-inclusive-design-is-an-advantage-in-the-war-for-talent#:~:text=Inclusive%20design%20means%20creating%20a,different%20to%20each%20individual%20person.
UNESCO Analytical Framework for inclusive policy design. UNESCO.org. (2015, October 20). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://en.unesco.org/inclusivepolicylab/sites/default/files/publication/document/2017/2/Analytical%20Framework%20for%20Inclusive%20Policy%20Design_UNESCO%20Inclusive%20Policy_qr_code.pdf
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