In the ever-evolving world of restaurants, much positive change has happened over the past few years when it comes to a growing acceptance of diversity among the ranks of foodservice frontline workers, managers and even executives.

Chipotle offers six employee resource groups that ensure an integrated community and help build the company’s culture.Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have moved beyond being buzzwords at many organizations and have become key components of organizational infrastructure. It’s a movement that seeks to ensure the fair treatment and full participation of all kinds of people but particularly those that have been thus far underrepresented or subject to discrimination.

To aid restaurants in offering an inclusive environment to employees at all levels, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) created ELEVATE: A DEI Framework for the Restaurant Industry, which they launched last year.

MFHA’s research (conducted with the NRA, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, and Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration) had shown that while restaurant employers believe they’re doing a good job with DEI, employees didn’t share the sentiment. So, the goal of the program is to ensure all employees feel respected, valued and heard.

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