Beyond Accommodations: How Personalization at Work Benefits Everyone | Charlotte Dales
Mar 4, 2025
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Charlotte Dales, co-founder and CEO of Inclusively, passionately discusses the crucial role of personalized support at work. She reveals how silent struggles can hinder employee performance and the importance of mental health resources. Charlotte highlights Gen Z's demand for individualized accommodations and the significance of Employee Resource Groups in driving change. She emphasizes that when employees thrive through tailored solutions, businesses see substantial benefits, showcasing that understanding and addressing unique needs is a win-win for everyone.
Normalizing the request for accommodations at work fosters an inclusive culture, enhancing both employee wellbeing and organizational performance.
Generation Z's expectation for personalized work experiences necessitates that employers adapt their support systems to meet diverse employee needs.
Deep dives
The Need for Personalization in the Workplace
Many individuals require unique accommodations to thrive in their work environments, yet they often hesitate to ask for help due to fear of being perceived as weak or difficult. This silence can hinder both employee wellbeing and organizational performance, as employees may struggle without the support that is available to them. A shift towards normalizing the request for accommodations could significantly benefit the workforce by making the process of seeking support more inclusive. This personalized approach not only helps disabled individuals but also allows any employee—such as single parents or caregivers—to feel empowered to voice their needs.
Generation Z and the Expectation for Support
The rising prevalence of self-identified disabilities among Generation Z highlights a significant cultural shift in the workforce. Over 50% of Gen Z individuals report having a learning difference, mental health issue, or neurodivergence, largely due to earlier diagnoses and a strong propensity to advocate for themselves. This generation is accustomed to a tailored experience in many facets of life, leading them to naturally expect similar personalization at work. Employers must adapt to these expectations by offering support and accommodations that truly resonate with this demographic to foster engagement and productivity.
Stigma Surrounding Disclosure of Needs
Despite the clear necessity for accommodations, many employees remain silent about their needs due to the stigma associated with disclosing disabilities or personal challenges. Individuals may be unaware of what specific accommodations to request or fear potential repercussions from their employers, deterring them from speaking up. This lack of communication not only affects their productivity but ultimately creates a culture where needs go unaddressed. By providing platforms that facilitate anonymous requests and guidance, businesses can encourage open discussions and empower employees to articulate their requirements without fear.
Insights from Data on Employee Needs
Data collection on employee needs reveals that mental health support and caregiving assistance are at the forefront of requested accommodations within organizations. The results show a significant demand for resources that address mental health issues, such as apps for anxiety and workplace flexibility, alongside practical support for caregiving. Surprisingly, menopause support emerged as a low-rated yet commonly searched area, indicating a gap in corporate benefits related to this critical issue. Understanding such data allows companies to tailor their offerings better and address the diverse needs of their employees effectively.
Most employees need some form of support to thrive at work, whether it’s flexible hours to care for a loved one, mental health resources, or a quieter space to focus. But asking for help can feel risky. That silence holds people back and costs companies more than they realize. Charlotte Dales is trying to fix that.
As the co-founder and CEO of Inclusively, Charlotte is building a platform that helps employees easily and privately access the support they need to do their best work. From mental health tools for sales teams to caregiving support for frontline workers, Inclusively is proving that when employees thrive, businesses thrive too.
In this episode, Dart and Charlotte discuss: - Why everyone needs accommodations at work - The hidden costs of silence and burnout - What sales teams need to thrive - Small adjustments that unlock performance - Why benefits fall short and what people really need - Gen Z’s push for personalized work - ERGs as engines of workplace change - Why supporting employees is smart business - And other topics...
Charlotte Dales is the co-founder and CEO of Inclusively, a platform helping companies design personalized, inclusive work experiences. Starting with a focus on disability accommodations, Inclusively has expanded to offer “success enablers” for all employees, allowing businesses to match individual needs with existing resources. Before founding Inclusively, Charlotte co-founded CAKE Technologies, a mobile payment solution later acquired by American Express. She started her career in investment banking at Deutsche Bank in London.
Work with Dart: Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.
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