Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace

Welcome to the first instalment of a new column on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. In this offering, diversity, equity, and inclusion are briefly considered before going on to discuss what an Ally does, further expanding on the concept of Allyship in practice following on from a guest editorial in the November 2023 issue (Sengstock, 2023). Future columns will include topics such as neurodiversity, gender identity, and disability, all with a focus on paramedic practice.

The concept of equality in the workplace is not new. We should all be familiar with the concept of equal employment opportunities, which has now been a core component of the recruitment strategies of ambulance services for many years. Building an equal, diverse, and inclusive paramedic workplace is no longer a nice-to-have approach, it must be a core component of the recruitment strategy. Through recognising and harnessing the advantages of diversity in the workplace, people and organisations can achieve their full potential, with the result being a psychologically safe and well workplace.