Twenty-fourth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Growing public and organizational awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has contributed to additional training on DEI within governmental organizations. Previous research demonstrates benefits to the citizens served when government organizations increase the diversity within their workforce. Governmental organizations primarily rely on DEI training to increase positive DEI perceptions for employees in the workplace without understanding the specific needs of employees. In practice, government organizations have not sought to understand employee DEI perceptions before administering additional organizational DEI training. This study uses the Reactions to Diversity Index (RTDI) survey instrument to examine the employee perceptions of diversity within a United States State Government organization. The RTDI assesses employee positive and negative perceptions of diversity in emotional, behavioral, judgments, personal consequences, and organizational outcomes categories. Our study seeks to determine the impact on DEI perceptions regarding governmental employees’ headquartered job location, non-mandatory training attendance, and employee gender. Comparing the means of this categorical data may lead to new training and outreach efforts, improving DEI positive perceptions for the specific governmental organization studied and providing a model for other governmental organizations seeking to strengthen positive DEI perceptions in their workforce.