Online market place Etsy have released their latest diversity metrics and progress towards long-term goals. It shows how they are starting to weave mental health into their diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
Is mental health part of your diversity, equity and inclusion strategy? How does it compare to Etsy’s approach?
Creating a workplace where everyone can thrive
Etsy not only wants people from all backgrounds to come to work for them, they also want them to stay and thrive. As a result, their diversity programming continues throughout the entire employee lifecycle; it doesn’t end with recruitment and hiring.
In 2020, as well as expanding their mentorship opportunities and diversity education tools, Etsy’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) pivoted to strictly virtual events. These enabled the ERGs to continue to foster a sense of community, build engagement, contribute to professional development, and amplify diverse voices within the organisation.
In 2021 Etsy is adding an Employee Resource Group exclusively focused on mental health to promote wellbeing and strengthen the sense of community which is so fundamental to the brand.
2021 the year of equity
Etsy recognises the work still needing to be done and are making sure in 2021 ‘equity’ has the same weight as their diversity and inclusion efforts. Their “Diversity & Inclusion” program has been upgraded to “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.” and will help ensure processes such as hiring, levelling, pay, performance, and promotion decisions are designed fairly and rigorously audited.
Promoting diversity beyond Etsy’s employees
Etsy’s marketplace connects millions of buyers and sellers. Whilst proud of the work they’ve done to nurture a diverse and inclusive culture within their workforce, the company recognises their responsibility to have an impact beyond their (virtual) walls. As a result they set a goal in 2019 to ensure their marketplaces are diverse, welcoming, and inclusive places to sell and shop.
One of the ways they are focused on doing this is by expanding the representation of diverse communities within their marketing efforts.
I’ll be interested to see whether Etsy also starts to amplify recognition across their communities that we all have mental health.
About the author
Claire Farrow is the Global Director of Content and Programming for the Mad World and Make a Difference Summits. She also drives the content for Make A Difference News. Claire is on a mission to help every employer – large, medium and small – get the insight, inspiration and contacts they need to make real impact on workplace culture, mental health and wellbeing in their organisation. She has been freelance for more than 15 years. During that time, she has had the honour of working with many leading publishers, including the New York Times