Part of the journey of belonging must include considering what the corporate “why not” might be that inhibits pursuing DEI that continues to result in many companies implementing check-the-box initiatives that amount to diversity washing. When organizations approach diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI&B) as merely an item to check off a list, they risk engaging in what's called diversity washing. This term describes efforts that give the appearance of commitment to diversity without any meaningful action or long-term impact. In essence, it’s when a company markets itself as being diverse or inclusive but fails to invest in real, transformative change within the organization.
The problem with diversity washing is that it may temporarily enhance a company’s image, but it undermines the deeper purpose of DEI&B: creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. Diversity washing often results in tokenism, superficial actions, and inconsistent policies, which do more harm than good.
Employees – not to mention vendors, and potential consumers -- can see through these efforts. Diversity washing damages trust, erodes morale, and even perpetuates the very issues these initiatives claim to address, all of which have the potential to negatively impact the bottom line. This begs the question, is diversity washing worth the risk?