The start of the year is always welcomed with excitement and anticipation of what the next few months will bring. With the challenges in the workplace that the last few months have presented, organizations large and small have witnessed many changes. One of the spaces that has seen progress in leaps and bounds is that of diversity, equity and inclusion. We asked professionals in the DEI space to pen their thoughts on what they expect the state of the industry to look like in 2022, whether that’s tips on trends and strategies or even sharing what they are doing within their organizations and the learning opportunities in the industry they want to spotlight. We are happy to include some diverse voices and perspectives in our cover story and hope we can all take away from the insights shared here.
Sharon E. Jones, Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Haynes Boone:
“2022 presents many challenges and opportunities with respect to DEI. One of the most significant new areas of focus is being responsive to the needs and concerns of attorneys and professional staff as Haynes Boone transitions from a pandemic-focused workplace environment to a new hybrid environment. It is important to recognize employees’ interest in flexibility and Covid-related workplace concerns. As a law firm that highly values teamwork and a collaborative culture, we need to also balance remote work desires and flexibility concerns. Another concern: How do we continue to provide high-quality training and development for junior attorneys in a hybrid environment at the same level we did pre-pandemic? Historically, relationships were built on personal contact, and we need to figure out how we can continue that important relationship development in our new workplace environment. These questions are important for all employees, but essential for diverse employees as we focus on retention and advancement.”
To read the full article, click here. (See Page 54)
