Organizational Approaches and Communication Practices to Support DEI in the Italian Workplace

This chapter explores how organisations understand and practise DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) with a focus on the internal and external commu-nication that supports DEI efforts. Nowadays organisations feel compelled to put DEI on the agenda in response to socio-demographic trends, best practices of multinational companies, the common goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, societal expectations of responsible behaviour, and employee expec-tations in terms of work–life balance and psychological safety. The present work responds to the lack of studies on the critical role that communication plays in crafting a DEI strategy and presenting it authentically and consistently to stake-holders inside and outside the organisation. Moreover, it contributes empirical evidence rooted in the Italian context, considering the lack of studies outside the US and the influence of the macro-national context on the way DEI is perceived and responded to by organisations. The main results of a longitudinal study conducted in Italy are therefore presented, showing how Italian organisations have concretised their DEI efforts in recent years, with DEI-related communication, and internal communication in particular, playing a key role. Building on the findings of this study and a review of international research, the chapter concludes with consider-ations for developing a DEI communication strategy that effectively supports an organisation’s priorities and needs both internally and externally.