Inclusion in Public-Sector Workplaces: Charting a Path for Theory and Practice

Abstract

In the current context of public-sector workplaces, there is a more concerted effort to address identity and equity through greater inclusion. The aim of the special issue is to present emergent empirical research assessing organizational attributes, policy, and practice for achieving improved workplace inclusion and individual perceptions of inclusive public-sector workplaces. This special issue highlights studies that advance innovative methodologies to address emergent research questions related to understanding, implementing, and assessing inclusive cultures and perceptions of inclusion. The collection of articles advances the understanding and theories of inclusive practices, policies, and organizational attributes. The authors go beyond the rhetoric of inclusion to parse out how inclusion is defined and operationalized in organizations, the impact of inclusive initiatives, and areas of identity that need to be explicitly included. This research provides a pathway for intentionally making the case for inclusion, not just acknowledgment of diversity.