Insights for HRD Education: Educating the Workforce for a More Socially Inclusive Workplace

Abstract

Problem

Inclusion evolved as a process that represents a right to participation and active involvement within the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) framework. In the workplace, inclusion has been applied more universally with the premise of inclusion for all. While it is acknowledged that inclusion should be practiced in a way to instill belongingness and authenticity, universality contradicts the reality that the playing field is not level for everyone. Inclusion does not always generate positive interactions or relationships across lines of difference.

Solution

A narrower view of inclusion as social inclusion allows a deeper view of inclusion within the social system, where everyday interactions occur. Shifting the conversation to social inclusion has important implications for human relations and inclusive education. Education for socially inclusive workplaces will require reimagining human resource development (HRD) education from a view of human relations.

Stakeholders

Human resource development scholars, educators, researchers, practitioners, professionals.

Keywords

human relations inclusion social inclusion social justice socially inclusive workplaces

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adams

(2007). Pedagogical frameworks for social justice education. In Adams

Bell

L. A.

Griffin

(Eds.), Teaching for diversity and social justice (pp. 15–34). Routledge.

Bell

L. A.

(2007). Theoretical foundations for social justice education. In Adams

Bell

L. A.

Griffin

(Eds.), Teaching for diversity and social justice (pp. 1–14). Routledge.

Bernstein

(2003). Class, codes and control: Vol. 3. Towards a theory of educational transmission. Routledge.

Bronfenbrenner

(2005). Making human beings human: Bioecological perspectives on human development. Sage.

Byrd

M. Y.

(2018). Diversity branding strategy: Concealing implicit stereotypes and biased behaviors. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 20(3), 299–312. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422318778006

Byrd

M. Y.

(2022). Creating a culture of inclusion and belongingness in remote work environments that sustains meaningful work. Human Resource Development International, 25(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/13678868.2022.2047252

Byrd

M. Y.

(2024). Theoretical, philosophical, and paradigmatic foundations for countering racism: A systems view. In The palgrave handbook of antiracism in human resource development (pp. 187–201). Springer International Publishing.

Collins

C. R.

Watson

(2021). Subverting whiteness: A systems theoretical approach to anti-racist praxis. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 12(3), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.17161/gjcpp.v12i3.20642

Collins

P. H.

(1999). Reflections on the outsider within. Journal of Career Development, 26(1), 85–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/089484539902600107

10.

Crone

(2018). Understanding others, reciprocity, and self-consciousness. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 17(2), 267–278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11097-016-9498-3

11.

Dei

G. J. S.

(2008). Indigenous knowledge studies and the next generation: Pedagogical possibilities for anti-colonial education. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 37(S1), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.1375/s1326011100000326

12.

Delgado

Stefancic

(2023). Critical race theory: An introduction (87). NYU Press.

13.

Elliott

(2018). It’s all about ignorance: Reflections from the blue-eyed/brown-eyed exercise. In Barlow

F. K.

Sibley

C. G.

(Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of the psychology of prejudice: Concise student edition (pp. 253–267). Cambridge University Press.

14.

Felder

(2018). The value of inclusion. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 52(1), 54–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9752.12280

15.

Ferrera

J. M.

Mäkinen

de Souza Amorim

(2018). Reflecting on inclusion in early childhood education: Pedagogical practice, school space and peer interaction. Journal of Early Childhood Education Research, 7(1), 25–52.

16.

Filippou

Acquah

E. O.

Bengs

(2025). Inclusive policies and practices in higher education: A systematic literature review. Review of Education, 13(1), Article e70034. https://doi.org/10.1002/rev3.70034

17.

Gale

Mills

Cross

(2017). Socially inclusive teaching: Belief, design, action as pedagogic work. Journal of Teacher Education, 68(3), 345–356. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022487116685754

18.

Giroux

H. A.

(2021). The public imagination and the dictatorship of ignorance. Social Identities, 27(6), 698–717. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504630.2021.1931089

19.

Gosney

M. W.

Hughes

(2016). Underlying assumptions of HRD theory and practice. The history of human resource development: Understanding the unexplored philosophies, theories, and methodologies (pp. 131–147): Palgrave Macmillan US.

20.

Grindstaff

(2022). Barriers to inclusion: Social roots and current concerns. In Bisson

L. F.

Grindstaff

Brazil-Cruz

Barbu

S. J.

(Eds.), Uprooting bias in the academy: Lessons from the field (pp. 19–44). Springer Nature.

21.

Hasselaar

Leopold

T. A.

Suh

Berg

(2021). Pathways to social justice: A revitalized vision for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce. [White Paper]. World Economic Forum in collaboration with Mercer, Geneva. https://www.weforum.org/whitepapers/pathways-to-social-justice-a-revitalized-vision-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-workforce

22.

Jackson

Fong

Jones

Orr

(2021). The lived experience workforce: The importance of respectfully embedding lived experience at all levels of service design and production. Cadernos Brasileiros de Saúde Mental/Brazilian Journal of Mental Health, 13(36), 82–96.

23.

Joseph-Salisbury

(2019). Institutionalised whiteness, racial microaggressions and black bodies out of place in higher education. Whiteness and Education, 4(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/23793406.2019.1620629

24.

Korkmaz

A. V.

Van Engen

M. L.

Knappert

Schalk

(2022). About and beyond leading uniqueness and belongingness: A systematic review of inclusive leadership research. Human Resource Management Review, 32(4), Article 100894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100894

25.

Koutsouris

Anglin-Jaffe

Stentiford

(2020). How well do we understand social inclusion in education? British Journal of Educational Studies, 68(2), 179–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2019.1658861

26.

Lampmann

(2013). Seeking belongingness: Examining equity, capability and opportunity through existing index schemes. The Haas institute for a fair and inclusive society. University of California at Berkeley.

27.

Lerner

M. J.

(1975). The justice motive in social behavior: Introduction. Journal of Social Issues, 31(3), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1975.tb00995.x

28.

Levitas

Pantazis

Fahmy

Gordon

Lloyd-Reichling

Patsios

(2007). The multi-dimensional analysis of social exclusion. University of Bristol.

29.

Love

(2020, April 15). When did we add the equity to diversity, equity, and inclusion? https://ideas.bkconnection.com/when-did-we-add-the-equity-to-diversity-equity-and-inclusion#:∼:text=We_are_humans%2C_made_of_flesh_and_blood,that_humans_have_inherent_value_simply_by_existing

30.

May

Bridger

(2010). Developing and embedding inclusive policy and practice in higher education. Higher Education Academy.

31.

Millard

T. L.

(1962). Human relations in a changing society, trends and principles. Journal of Educational Sociology, 35(5), 228–235. https://doi.org/10.2307/2264569

32.

Nguyen

L. A.

Evan

Chaudhuri

Hagen

Williams

(2024). Inclusion in the workplace: An integrative literature review. European Journal of Training and Development, 48(3/4), 334–356. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejtd-10-2022-0104

33.

Opotow

(2018). Social justice theory and practice: Fostering inclusion in exclusionary contexts. In Hammack

P. L.

(Ed.), The Oxford handbook of social psychology and social justice (pp. 41–56). Oxford University Press.

34.

Osgood

R. L.

(2009). The history of inclusion in the United States. Gallaudet University Press.

35.

Otten

Jansen

W. S.

(2014). Predictors and consequences of exclusion and inclusion at the culturally diverse workplace. In Towards inclusive organizations (pp. 67–86). Psychology Press.

36.

Parsons

(1972). Culture and social system revisited. Social Science Quarterly, 53(2), 253–266.

37.

Pless

Maak

(2004). Building an inclusive diversity culture: Principles, processes and practice. Journal of Business Ethics, 54(2), 129–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-004-9465-8

38.

Polat

(2011). Inclusion in education: A step towards social justice. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(1), 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.06.009

39.

Purdue

Gordon‐Burns

Gunn

Madden

Surtees

(2009). Supporting inclusion in early childhood settings: Some possibilities and problems for teacher education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 13(8), 805–815. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110802110743

40.

Qin

Muenjohn

Chhetri

(2013). A review of diversity conceptualizations: Variety, trends, and a framework. Human Resource Development Review, 13(2), 133–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534484313492329

41.

Qvortrup

(2018). Inclusion: Dimensions of inclusion in education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 22(7), 803–817. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2017.1412506

42.

Rapp

A. C.

Corral-Granados

(2024). Understanding inclusive education–a theoretical contribution from system theory and the constructionist perspective. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 28(4), 423–439. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2021.1946725

43.

Rezai

Lindsay

Ahmed

Vijayakumar

(2023). Workplace inclusion: A scoping review of the qualitative literature. Work, 75(1), 59–73. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-211343

44.

Roary

Rumala

B. B.

Coleman

S. E.

Knuckles

Turk

Glaze

Canedy

FallCreek

(2020). Engaging people with lived experience of inequity: Relationship building. Implementation guide. Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

45.

Salmi

D’Addio

(2021). Policies for achieving inclusion in higher education. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 5(1), 47–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322969.2020.1835529

46.

Shaeffer

(2019). Inclusive education: A prerequisite for equity and social justice. Asia Pacific Education Review, 20(2), 181–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-019-09598-w

47.

Shor

(2024). Empowering education: Critical teaching for social change. University of Chicago Press.

48.

Shore

L. M.

Chung

Dean

M. A.

Ehrhart

K. H.

Jung

Randel

Singh

(2009). Diversity and inclusiveness: Where are we now and where are we going. Human Resource Management Review, 19(2), 117–133.

49.

Somers

M. R.

Roberts

C. N.

(2008). Toward a new sociology of rights: A genealogy of “buried bodies” of citizenship and human rights. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 4(1), 385–425. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.lawsocsci.2.081805.105847

50.

Stainback

S. B.

Smith

(2005). Inclusive education: historical perspective. Creating an Inclusive School, 2, 12–26.

51.

Stewart

T. L.

Laduke

J. R.

Bracht

Sweet

B. A.

Gamarel

K. E.

(2003). Do the “eyes” have it? A program evaluation of Jane Elliott's “Blue‐Eyes/Brown‐Eyes” diversity training exercise 1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 33(9), 1898–1921. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.2003.tb02086.x

52.

Tajfel

(1974). Social identity and intergroup behaviour. Social Science Information, 13(2), 65–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/053901847401300204

53.

Turner

B. S.

(2006). Vulnerability and human rights. University Park: Penn. State Univ. Press.

54.

Winkle-Wagner

Locks

A. M.

(2014). Diversity and inclusion on campus. Higher education core concept series. Routledge.

55.

Wise

Dickinson

Katan

Gallegos

M. C.

(2020). Inclusive higher education governance: Managing stakeholders, strategy, structure and function. Studies in Higher Education, 45(2), 339–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1525698