When implementing a policy, here are a few questions to consider:

1. Environmental scan – The first step in this process is to assess your workplace and undergo an environmental scan reviewing the policies and procedures your organization already has set in place. This will help you determine the initial gaps you face and clarify your starting point.
2. Conflicts/Overlap - After reviewing the policy landscape within your organization, it is crucial for you to obtain any policies or procedures that may closely relate or even conflict with the main principles in which the DEAI plan is made to address. Old policies that do not get reviewed and revised can often pose as barriers to employees or patrons of diverse backgrounds.
3. Think of the “Why?” - It is best practice to revisit this frequently while drafting your policy. It enables you to be intentional with every intricacy that goes into creating an effective DEAI policy.
4. Goal setting – Setting goals is an ideal way to hold your organization and staff accountable on what to address in the policy you create.
5. Outsourcing – Bringing on a DEAI consultant/professional is one more way to cross reference what your internal team has drafted to make sure there are no gaps or dust left under the blanket.
6. Establish timeline – There is no doubt that implementing a newly developed policy of any sort takes a bit of time and aligned efforts. It is best practice to set quarterly goals that work towards achieving

Resources

• Use this template to build your own DEAI policy
  
• Read through the Chamber's action plan
• Learn more about the federal government's 50/30 challenge for Boards in Canada