New World of Work Series: “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)” Panel Discusses History, Evolution and Future of EDI Practices

On Monday, February 2, 2026, the Arts & Science Program held the second New World of Work Series (NWWS) event of the 2025/2026 academic year.

When surveying our peers at the beginning of the year, a topic of interest was contemporary equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. We also felt this was a timely topic, given recent developments such as the implementation of Bill 33 in Ontario and broader global policy shifts.

We decided that a panel would serve as the best format to proceed with a discussion of “EDI initiatives in the workplace”. The event was held at McMaster’s MSU Hub and featured a panel of Arts & Science alumni and McMaster University faculty members.

We had the honor of welcoming:

• Bruce Miyashita (Artsci, 1984), Lean Sensei at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario
• Rika Sawatsky (Artsci, 2009), Employment Lawyer and Founder of Clausework
• Saroo Sharda, Associate Dean Equity and Inclusion, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University
• Barrington Walker, Professor of History and Vice-Provost of Equity and Inclusion at McMaster University

Dr. Walker started off the event by discussing the history and development of EDI initiatives, positioning these as part of a long and unfinished civil rights movement. He shared his perspective that the order in which we place the terms “equity”, “diversity” and “inclusion” should reflect the historical context of the places in which they are used. For instance, in Canada, he argued, commitments to equity should lead us to use the term “EDI” rather than the largely American term “DEI”.

Following Dr. Walker, Rika Sawatsky shared her experiences in employment law and discussed how EDI initiatives have changed both within her field and in others that she has observed through her consultations with employers. She described the need for employers to support employees who experience domestic violence, and how equity for female employees remains a concern within many workplaces.

Picking up on this theme, Dr. Sharda spoke to the issue of gendered wage disparities within the health care system. One factor contributing to such disparities, she noted, is that physician pay and scheduling reward certain kinds of work over others. The types of emotional labour that women physicians are more likely to engage in – spending time talking and connecting with patients, for instance – goes uncompensated. Dr. Sharda referenced a study led by Artsci alumna and Health Policy PhD student at McMaster, Monika Dutt, which found that female family physicians spend 15% more time per patient encounter than their male counterparts.

Panelists also discussed current critiques of EDI, and how they are sometimes not so much criticisms of EDI itself, but rather of the execution of EDI initiatives. Bruce Miyashita shared that many organizations develop EDI policies with good intentions but lack the evidence-based information necessary to implement them effectively. This is where lawyers like Rika Sawatsky play an important role. Rika noted that lawyers in her field are sometimes unwilling to go beyond providing organizations with information about what is legally necessary with regards to EDI. She emphasized the importance of more holistic legal advice.

During the open Q&A period, Arts & Science students and alumni raised questions related to the inclusion of Indigeneity within EDI, and the specificity of language that is used in the EDI context. In response to these questions, panelists discussed how, over time, language used in the workplace has shifted away from terms such as decolonization towards ostensibly less contentious terms such as “inclusion” and “fairness”. The panel emphasized that the words we use in this context are important, and companies should consider the justice-related ramifications of choosing to dilute language in attempts to make EDI initiatives more widely palatable.

Student attendee Desmond Young (Level III) expressed that the event provided him with a broader understanding of contemporary DEI initiatives. He particularly enjoyed “how the panelists included discussions of historical, systemic issues alongside contemporary examples.” He also noted that he “really appreciated Dr. Sharda’s explanation of the importance of considering lived experiences in [university] admission processes. She explained how lived experiences are a crucial factor that allows admissions committees to accurately evaluate merit. I found it be an important reminder in today’s current climate.”

This event was part of the New World of Work Series, which is supported through a generous gift made by Arts & Science alumnus Bruce Miyashita (Artsci 1984). We are grateful to Bruce for taking part in our panel, and we would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to him for providing valuable insights throughout the planning process.