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Inclusion by design: How standards can help develop inclusive, digital workplaces
In today’s digital age, an organization’s success is inseparable from the diversity of its workforce and their wellbeing. A thriving workforce is built on the richness of different experiences, viewpoints and identities coming together. Research shows when wisdom is converged - innovation accelerates, creativity expands, and smarter decisions follow. For example, Harvard Business Review research found companies with more diverse management teams are 70% more likely to capture new markets. But as technology reshapes work, how do we design inclusive workplaces and leverage technology so everyone can share the gains and thrive?
Technology for inclusivity
SelfDetermination Theory suggests that human wellbeing and motivation flourish when individuals have autonomy, feel capable, and experience a strong sense of belonging. When designed and deployed responsibly, technology can be a powerful accelerator of this.
For example, unbiased recruitment technologies can help reduce human subjectivity in early hiring stages. With two thirds of employees globally saying their organization is using AI tools to support candidate recruitment, there is a growing need to build these tools ethically, incorporating appropriate guardrails, such as those provided by AI management system standard ISO 42001, to help organizations choose talent based on merit rather than unconscious bias.
More broadly, personalized learning systems, accessibility enhancements and real-time language translation tools make workplaces more inclusive for different learning styles and abilities.
However, technology can also have a negative impact on human well-being – from biased outputs to leaving humans with only complex, psychologically heavy tasks. If we’re serious about building an equitable digital future, we have look at the human cost of digital work — and design for it.
Designed well, digital tools can help augment human interactions for a more diverse workforce. One that strengthens psychological safety, enables more flexible working, and makes workplaces more accessible.
Addressing invisible stigmas
For too long there has been fear of stigma in the workplace for being human. Whether it’s the complexities added to balancing work and growing multi-generational caring responsibilities or natural biological experiences, left unaddressed, there is the risk of organizations losing experience, talent and trust. BSI’s research, for example, found that women were falling out of the workforce early and not out of choice, due to factors including managing menopause at work.
Again, digital tools deployed carefully can be a force for good. Employee engagement platforms and virtual collaboration tools are key in supporting those navigating complex caring demands or health-related challenges, helping to reduce stigma through greater employee autonomy.
Creating inclusive workplaces with standards
International standards offer organizations robust frameworks for embedding well-being, equity, and psychological safety into their operations and technology designs.
Psychological Health and Safety at Work (ISO 45003), supports organizations to identify psychosocial risks, design fair workloads, and build a culture where people can speak up without fear. From managing workplace isolation, to supportive return to work initiatives, the standard helps organizations adopt appropriate measures to suit their workplace and consider during technology design.
Another poignant standard, ISO 53800, provides guidelines for gender equality, helping assess gender disparities, foster equitable career progression, and improve representation at every level. Building such practices into decision-making, automated or human-led, offers huge potential for inclusive workplaces.
Also, with organizations increasingly seeking guidance on female health, suicide prevention, paternity leave, and family care support, there are further opportunities for standards to shape technology design and safer, inclusive work environments.
A thriving, inclusive workplace
Ultimately, when people feel supported and safe, organizations, and their systems, become stronger. By combing international health, safety and well-being standards with technology design, organizations can reshape more inclusive, digital workplaces.
Dr Laura Bishop is a Human Factors and Cyberpsychologist working for BSI as their AI and Cybersecurity Digital Sector Lead. With a PhD in human vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks and research in both human-robot and human-computer interaction, Laura is highly experienced on the psychological and societal impacts of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. At BSI, Laura supports the development of standards around the safe, secure and reliable use of digital systems and what is required to increase trust in these capabilities. Prior to working at BSI, Laura ran the Human-centric Cyber Innovation Programme at Airbus providing novel solutions to support the benefits and mitigate the challenges of cyber and AI technology. Laura is also an Honorary Research Associate of Cardiff University, advocating their continued exploration into the benefits and challenges of human-technology interaction and continues to peer review academic papers in both the cyber and robotics space.
About the campaign
techUK’s TechTogether campaign continues with a focus on ‘equity by design'. Our insights this week focus on the importance of inclusive design in product development, creating technology that is accessible to people with disabilities, tackling affordability, connectivity, and digital skills gaps through cross-sector partnerships and community-led initiatives, and, ensuring public services are co-designed with disabled, ethnic, and older users.
TechTogether - Week 3
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