Improving accessibility and inclusion
1 in 2 Australians live with a chronic, sometimes invisible, health condition.
Despite the high numbers, they are rarely considered in organisational diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) policies.
At best they may be incorporated into umbrella disability policies but many do not self-identify as living with a disability.
By expanding our thinking on DEIB to include safe indoor air, we can make our spaces accessible and inclusive for all.
This is Michelle
Her cancer is in remission.
She’s back to being a full-time member of the team – but her immune system is weakened.
She’s meeting with 20 people in a small room – the door’s closed and there are no windows. An attendee tests positive for COVID later that evening.
A tale of two workplaces
Typical Workplace
The air quality in the meeting room was quite poor, leading to a high rate of “rebreathed air”.
Unfortunately, 4 members of the team were infected, including Michelle – which impacted her health and the productivity of many projects as team members recovered.
Safer Air Workplace
The air quality in the meeting room was excellent - quite close to clean, outdoor air.
No-one else on the team were infected and the team's health and productivity was not impacted.
Why is this story compelling? It’s based on a real-world event, in the weeks before Christmas – the worst possible time to lose team members, but also personally impactful for staff too.
“
(We should) educate employers on how best to identify and manage their chronically ill workforce, and embed this cohort of workers in their diversity and inclusion strategies.
- Prof Leah Ruppanner
University of Melbourne
2023 State of the Future of Work