RESEARCH
Do the RIGHT THING Diversity, equity and inclusion can create a better workplace culture for all employees. They also make business sense – by Michelle Sturman
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eorge Bernard Shaw supposedly once noted: “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” This observation may easily apply to the world of work which has undergone a gradual transformation over centuries as we have become further enlightened. At least this was the case until 2020 when, in a matter of weeks if not days, the global pandemic altered our working life. Against this backdrop has arisen a more vigorous assessment of what people want and how they wish to be treated as individuals through the lens of their employer. It has, in part, contributed to the Great Resignation. With companies fighting to hire the best talent, Glassdoor’s Diversity Hiring Survey found that over three-quarters (76%) of job seekers and employees in the US are looking for an inclusive workplace when thinking about a career move. Meanwhile, almost a third (32%) would not apply for a position where there is a lack of diversity. For many, the pandemic has clearly brought to the fore issues of work inequality, a battle people have been fighting for years, with varying degrees of success. Inequality is far-reaching, encompassing everything from bullying and harassment to the glass ceiling and social exclusion. It stretches across all forms of diversity including (but not limited to) sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, age, race and ethnicity, religion and beliefs, disability, neurodiversity and social class. In this world of rapidly changing minds about what employees want from their employers, one acronym is taking centre stage, encapsulating the movement toward equality in the workforce: DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) – sometimes also referred to as D&I (see ‘What does it all mean’ on page 46 for definitions).
INCREASING AWARENESS The International Labour Organization (ILO), in its Transforming Enterprises Through Diversity and Inclusion study released earlier this year, draws on a global survey with over 12,000 employees in 75 countries. One eye-catching statistic is that two-thirds of respondents say the coronavirus crisis brought about a heightened awareness of societal inequalities and has contributed to extra focus and action on D&I where they work. D&I, health and well-being as well as flexibility have become top employee concerns. Comments related to D&I, for example, increased by 19% compared with 2019. Significantly, two-thirds of participants agree or strongly agree the pandemic experience increased expectations of their employer to promote diversity and inclusion. While most business leaders recognise the urgency and importance of DEI, it is complex, can be notoriously difficult to implement successfully, and there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy. This is evidenced in the Future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2022 survey from the HR Research
Percentage of job seekers and employees who would not apply for a position where there is a lack of diversity Source: Glassdoor
