Supporting an inclusive workplace in difficult times

What does it mean to support inclusion in difficult times?  

Employers are increasingly faced with situations where they need to support employees during difficult national or world events in which marginalised community members experience targeted violence or harm.  

Difficult national or world events that concern specific diversity groups can have a significant negative impact on employees’ feelings of inclusion and wellbeing at work.  

DCA Members can log in to access detailed information on what it means to support inclusion in difficult times. 

The rest of this content is restricted to DCA members.

To find out more about joining DCA please see below.

If your organisation has already signed up for membership, this will activate as soon as payment is received.

Learn more about membership   Sign up for a membership

Support services

This webpage discusses events and systemic discrimination which have harmed or continue to harm communities.

If you or someone close to you is in distress or immediate danger, call 000 as soon as possible.

Should you need support, please contact mental health support agencies, such as:  

 
  1. Much of this definition of difficult times events were based on definitions of “mega-threats” by Angela Leigh and Shimul Melwani. “Mega-threats” are explored in the following literature:

    Leigh, A. & Melwani, S., "#Blackemployeesmatter: Mega-threats, identity fusion, and enacting positive deviance in organisations," Academy of Management Review, Vol. 44, No. 3, 2019, p. 564-591

    Leigh, A. and Melwani, S., “‘Am I next?’ The spillover effects of Mega-Threats on Avoidant Behaviours at Work,” Academy of Management Journal, 2022, Vol. 65, No. 3

    Leigh, A. & Melwani, S., "Supporting employees after violence against their communities" in Harvard Business Review, 5 October 2022, https://hbr.org/2022/10/supporting-employees-after-violence-against-their-community

    Prengler, M. et al, "How to be an ally to colleagues after violence against their communities: Silence speaks volumes," in Harvard Business Review, 10 February 2023

  2. French, E. and Vyver, J. “Voice to Parliament referendum impacting mental health of Indigenous Australians as charities report increase in racism,” ABC News, 3 October 2023
  3. Diversity Council Australia/Jumbunna Institute (Brown, C., DAlmada-Remedios, R., Gilbert, J. OLeary, J. and Young, N.) Gari Yala (Speak the Truth): Centreing the Work Experiences of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians, Sydney, Diversity Council Australia/Jumbunna Institute, 2020, “The Burden of Identity Strain and Cultural Load,” p. 33-37