Workplace diversity, equity and inclusion have become topics of heightened discussion at a national level, with shifting policies and perspectives influencing how companies approach these priorities. Some organizations are re-evaluating their approach. To our team, it remains clear that companies that embed structured, thoughtful people practices that foster belonging, ensure fairness in opportunities, and cultivate an engaged workforce- build stronger and more successful teams.
So, how can small businesses take an intentional approach to ensuring fairness and fostering engaged teams?
- Expanding Talent Access: Strengthening recruitment strategies by widening talent pipelines and reducing barriers for candidates of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The best ideas come from teams with diverse ways of thinking, with outputs including richer discussions and smarter business practices.
- Belonging from Day One: Setting new hires up for long-term impact through structured onboarding, mentorship, and continuous feedback loops. Employees who feel supported, valued, and connected from day one bring their best ideas forward.
- Fair and Strategic Compensation: Ensuring data-driven pay structures that balance market competitiveness with internal equity– because compensation decisions should be both smart and fair to attract and retain top talent.
- Building Inclusive Workplace Cultures: Employees thrive in cultures where they feel psychologically safe, valued, and empowered to shape discussions- not just participate in them. This requires leadership commitment, transparency, and consistent action.
Leaders in small and growing businesses have a unique opportunity to embed fairness and equity into the DNA of their organizations – not as a reaction, but as a strategy for long-term success.
At Maeve, we help businesses think strategically about people practices that drive performance, engagement, and belonging, all while reinforcing what makes each company’s culture unique. We’d love to hear what steps your organization is taking to strengthen its people practices.
You can listen to our CEO and founder of Maeve, Precillia Redmond MBA CCMP on Dr. Nadia Butt, Ed.D, MBA and Rob Hadley‘s podcast Inclusive Collective. Precillia joined them in 2023 to offer advice for creating a sense of belonging in growing companies and infusing inclusive and equitable practices and behaviors into people processes and operations.