Quiz: How Respectful And Inclusive Is Your Workplace?
In a respectful workplace, policies, practices, and employee interactions reflect consideration for others, and diversity is valued. All employees feel safe and have equal opportunities to succeed. The questions in this quiz are designed to help you assess how respect and inclusion are supported in your workplace and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Introduction
Creating a truly respectful and inclusive workplace requires intention, awareness, and ongoing commitment, whether in a small business or a large organization. This self-assessment tool will help you evaluate your workplace's current practices and identify both strengths and opportunities for growth.
For each question below, choose the response that most closely reflects your workplace based on what you've observed or experienced. The questions apply to all types of work environments - from retail floors to construction sites, remote teams to manufacturing facilities. After completing all questions, count how many A, B, and C responses you selected to determine your results.
Note: This assessment can be used by anyone in the workplace, regardless of your role or position. The insights gained can help inform personal actions, team discussions, and/or organizational initiatives.
Take as much time as you need to consider your workplace culture. When you're ready, start the quiz!
Quiz: How Respectful And Inclusive Is Your Workplace?
This quiz asks ten questions about your workplace practices and employee interactions. Take a moment to ponder each question then select the statement (A, B, or C) that you believe best match the realities of your workplace.
Keep track of the number of A, B, and C responses.
1. Leadership Diversity
Do the people who make decisions at your workplace reflect different backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and perspectives?
A. Decision-makers include a good mix of people with different backgrounds, identities, and viewpoints.
B. There's some variety among decision-makers, but many groups aren't well represented.
C. Most decision-makers are similar to each other with little variation in background or identity.
6. Growth and Advancement Opportunities
How clear is the path to advancement in your workplace?
A. The steps to move up or grow in your job are clear and fair for everyone.
B. There are some guidelines, but the full process isn't clear to most people.
C. It's mostly a mystery how people get chosen for better positions or opportunities.
2. Voice and Participation
When team members share ideas or concerns during discussions, what typically happens?
A. All voices are welcomed, acknowledged, and considered regardless of role or background.
B. Some voices are heard more than others, with certain individuals receiving more attention.
C. The same few people dominate discussions, while others rarely speak up or are interrupted.
7. Accommodations
How does your workplace help people who might need adjustments to do their job well?
A. The workplace readily offers help and flexibility to meet different needs without making it a big deal.
B. Help is available if people ask for it officially, but they have to go through a specific process.
C. Different needs are rarely talked about, or when they are, they're treated as special favors rather than basic support.
3. Workplace Interactions
How do people typically interact with each other at work?
A. People work well together across different teams, respect each other's differences, and form good working relationships.
B. People are polite but mostly stick to their own groups or departments.
C. There are obvious cliques, some people get left out, and there's tension between certain groups.
8. Holidays and Flexible Scheduling
How does your workplace handle different holidays and people's need for time off?
A. The workplace respects various cultural and religious holidays and is flexible about scheduling when possible.
B. Standard holidays are recognized, but there's not much awareness of holidays from different cultures.
C. Only the typical holidays are recognized, and there's little flexibility with work schedules.
4. Handling of Disagreement and Conflict
What happens when people disagree or don't get along at work?
A. Different opinions are welcomed and seen as helpful, and problems between people are addressed openly and respectfully.
B. Some different opinions are okay, but real conflicts tend to be ignored rather than properly solved.
C. People who disagree are often seen as troublemakers, and unresolved problems typically create ongoing tension.
9. Recognizing Good Work
How are people's contributions and achievements acknowledged at work?
A. Good work is noticed and appreciated fairly across all teams and individuals.
B. Some good work gets recognized, but it's usually the same types of achievements or the same people getting attention.
C. People rarely receive recognition for their work, or the recognition seems unfair.
5. Hiring Practices
How does your workplace typically hire new people?
A. The process is fair and consistent for everyone, with a focus on job skills rather than personal connections or similarities.
B. There's a basic process in place, but it may sometimes favor certain types of candidates over others.
C. New hires tend to be people who are similar to those already working there, with "fitting in" seeming more important than diverse perspectives.
10. Communication and Education
How are expectations about respect and inclusion communicated in your workplace?
A. Through clear, written policies and regular training for both new and existing team members.
B. Through basic written guidelines that aren't well-explained, with little or no formal training.
C. Barely communicated at all, with minimal or outdated written guidelines and almost no discussion.
Assess Your Results
'A' Statements
Reflect strong respectful and inclusive workplace practices.
'B' Statements
Show a foundation for respect and inclusion with clear room for improvement.
'C' Statements
Indicate significant gaps in respect and inclusion that need to be addressed.
Understanding Your Results
If you selected mostly "A" responses, congratulations! Your workplace demonstrates strong practices in respect and inclusion.
If your responses included some "B"s and "C"s, you're in good company. Most workplaces have areas of strength as well as challenges. Your honest assessment is the first step toward positive change.
Regardless of your results, continued commitment to respect and inclusion is essential. The Canadian Diversity Initiative offers DEI Training Online to support you in your inclusion journey.
Book a call to learn more about our DEI training options for employers.
Would your workplace benefit from Respect and Inclusion training?
The Respectful Workplace is a key DEI course for all employees. This self-paced online training addresses unacceptable behaviours, including discrimination, harassment, and bullying, and provides practical guidance on how to foster a respectful, inclusive workplace culture.