What is a DEI Statement? #

A DEI statement outlines a company’s commitment to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. While no two DEI statements will look identical, they’ll usually touch on the role of DEI in shaping company values and the overarching ways that DEI manifests itself through company actions.

What Should a DEI Statement Include? #

In most cases, a DEI statement will include the following:

• A statement of the company’s mission
• An explanation of how DEI connects to said mission
• A call-out to specific underrepresented groups
• High-level examples of DEI efforts

How to Write a DEI Statement #

To begin writing your DEI statement, you’ll first want to take stock of both your company’s mission and its approach to DEI. Your DEI statement shouldn’t reiterate your values verbatim or provide a laundry list of current and past efforts, but they will help to serve as a foundation.

From there, here are the steps you should take.

Step 1: Create a headline. #

While your headline could be a blunt label like [Company Name] Statement on DEI, the best headlines provide a bit more specificity.

For example, Indeed’s headline reads, You belong at Indeed. This direct address immediately welcomes the reader, regardless of background, into the Indeed workplace. It also emphasizes the notion of belonging, which alludes to the company embracing different voices.

Step 2: Write the statement. #

DEI statements generally range in length from 50-100 words. While the content of each statement varies, there are some common threads running through several of them.

• Commitment– Each company expresses a commitment to diversity. Google, for example, states a desire to “make diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do—from how we build our products to how we build our workforce.” Notice how this addresses DEI in both internal and external senses.
• Examples– Many companies choose to touch upon how their commitments to DEI are evident through their work and policies. Netflix, for example, mentions several of its popular films and series, each representing the voices of underrepresented groups along lines of race, nationality, and disability. The key to this component is brevity. Later in the statement, you can elaborate on more specific examples of DEI efforts; however, your DEI statement should create broad strokes.
• Summary– While there are a variety of ways to conclude your DEI statement, an effective approach could be to tie DEI to your company’s values. After noting some of its DEI-related efforts, Comcast notes: we’re committed to leveraging our unique platforms to help create positive change. By stating this, Comcast, a global telecommunications company, notes that its commitment to DEI works in tandem with its overall goals of creating positive change.

Step 3: Give your DEI statement a home. #

Some companies house their DEI statement under their About Us page, while others devote an entire page to diversity efforts. In most cases, the latter option will be the most effective.

On Uber’s diversity and inclusion page, you’ll find not only their DEI statement but also their annual People and Culture report, quotes from their Chief DEI officer, and links to pages that describe the ways in which Uber embraces workers from specific backgrounds.

Make Your Efforts Count #

When all is said and done, creating a DEI statement can seem like a relatively simple task; however, acting on its values can prove a bit more difficult. For many companies, hiring and retaining truly diverse pools of talent can be challenging, and even the most well-crafted DEI statement will do little to help. That’s why you should consider a diversity-driven solution like Noirefy to assist with your DEI recruitment efforts.