July 2022 Issue
A monthly forum to share diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.
Welcome to the next installment of Read.Watch.Listen: a monthly forum hosted by the NCSEA SE3 Committee to share and promote conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion within the structural engineering profession. Each month, we will curate a series of articles, audio-visual and digital media to facilitate self-education in matters that affect our professional practice as structural engineers. Whether you choose to read, watch, or listen (or all three!), we hope you will join us in this important conversation.
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This issue shares resources that show the relationship between DEI efforts and flexible work. Earlier studies have shown that flexible work positively impacts working parents, employees with mental and physical disabilities, and individuals from historically marginalized communities. The first resource below shares recent research that documents the benefit of flexible work specifically for Black employees. Additional resources are then provided to help industry leaders understand the overall benefits of flexible work and ways to avoid potential pitfalls.
Missed the previous issue? Check out the NCSEA SE3 Committee News and Publication page. Share your thoughts and/or recommended resources for the next issue at ncsea@ncsea.com.
Why Flexible Work is Essential to Your DEI Strategy - Harvard Business Review
A recent survey found that 81% of Black employees in the United States prefer a flexible work environment. This article discusses connections between welcoming work cultures and hybrid work structures. The authors also note that these flexible policies must be fully embraced by firm leaders themselves and that project managers must be trained on equitably leading hybrid teams.
How Engineers Can Find Flexibility in Structural Engineering - The Structural Engineering Channel
In this interview with Malory Atkinson, Managing Partner at Shear Structural, she discusses how and why her company embraces flexible work environments. She provides insight for other industry leaders, describes the challenges they have overcome, and discusses the benefits of flexible work on employee fulfillment and retention.
Pros and Cons of A Flexible Work Environment After The Pandemic - Engineering your Success
Dr. James Bryant discusses how industry leaders can update their leadership playbook and engage their employees in a flexible hybrid work environment. This podcast also includes advice on avoiding Zoom fatigue in flexible work environments and on running successful hybrid meetings. All episodes of this ongoing podcast, aimed at helping engineering leaders find more work-life balance for themselves and their employees, can be found here.
This article was originally published in the July 2022 issue of NCSEA's Structural Connection newsletter. For more information, check out NCSEA's DEI Resources.