Importance of Data Privacy & Anonymity with DEI Initiatives:
A closer look at the ramifications of making private employee information public
Why are privacy & anonymity important?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) surveys are an essential tool for organizations looking to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. These surveys can help identify Pain Points, provide insight into employee experiences, and guide the development of measurable DEI initiatives. The anonymity of these surveys is crucial to ensure that employees feel comfortable sharing their experiences and feedback. Without anonymity, individuals are often hesitant to be honest and vulnerable about their experiences for fear of retaliation from team members.
DEI surveys should be designed to help companies identify their DEI Pain Points with both quantitative and qualitative data while allowing participants to remain anonymous. Employees should be able to provide feedback without fear of retribution or retaliation. This allows employees to be honest and forthcoming about their experience which in turn helps companies create more effective DEI initiatives.
Enter, Diversio. We’ve developed a unique workforce survey that captures more than demographic data, in a shorter survey format. Our survey gathers more nuanced information and is designed to greatly increase participation rates. Using a combination of AI, natural language processing (NLP), and our own subject matter experts, the Diversio Platform collects quantitative and qualitative data to asses the state of your organization’s DEI pain points, categorize the results, and identify potential systemic bias, while maintaining complete anonymity to protect employees. Then it is compared against the industry average and internal Dominant Group. The results are displayed in a Heatmap to easily visualize detailed and specific pain points. This enables our AI-powered Recommendation Engine™ to provide interventions based on proven, real-world business solutions to address your unique pain points.
What happens if data is not secure?
In contrast, a recent National Post article, titled Privacy Commission probing CBC’s handling of staff data obtained via diversity survey, highlights the danger of employees’ personal information being shared without their consent. National Post reported that the HR department at CBC had been storing confidential information about its employees, including religion and sexual orientation, in an online system that was accessible to many employees. The CBC employees were understandably shocked to discover that this information had been shared without their knowledge or consent.
The National Post article highlights the importance of maintaining confidentiality in workplace surveys and HR processes. It also underscores the need for transparency and accountability in how organizations handle sensitive employee information. Employees have a right to privacy while still collecting valuable feedback to improve their DEI efforts.
Drive change in your workplace and retain privacy
Diversio’s DEI survey anonymity is an important feature for companies that want to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. It allows employees to share their experiences and feedback without fear of retribution or retaliation. The experiences of employees at CBC highlights the dangers of sharing personal information without employees’ consent. It is essential that companies prioritize employee privacy and take steps to protect sensitive information. By doing so, they can create a workplace where all employees feel safe, respected, and valued.
Contact us for more information on how Diversio can help you keep your diversity and inclusion data secure.
