To us, diversity means the incredible melting pot of humanity, the richness brought by the hundreds of ways we’re different from one another – whether that be gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or something else entirely.
And inclusion (in the workplace at least) means making sure everyone feels free to bring these differences to work, are celebrated for them, and supported to make them spark creatively together, for the good of your business.
Why is diversity and inclusion important?
People are the most important asset any organisation has, so inclusion isn't a ‘nice to have’ – it's an essential. The benefits of an inclusive work environment are well documented, yet over a third of staff LGBT staff have hidden their status at work for fear of discrimination (Stonewall, 2018: LGBT in Britain - Work Report). This finding also applies to other protected characteristics:
48% of people with a mental illness don’t feel comfortable talking about it at work. (Time to Change, 2014: National Attitudes to Mental Illness)
More than half of women have experienced sexual harassment at work, but only 27% of them felt they could report it. (TUC and Everyday Sexism Project, 2016: Still just a bit of banter?).
What are the benefits of an inclusive culture?
Almost half of employees say the ability to bring their real selves to work is the most important aspect of workplace culture. When employees feel included and able to be their real selves at work, they’re significantly more likely to perform better. Inclusive teams have been shown to outperform their peers by 80%. (Deloitte Australia, 2013: A new recipe to improve business performance). They stay for longer too, with 60% saying they would leave (or have left) an organisation for a more inclusive one. With average recruitment costs heading towards four figures, this in itself is a compelling business case. Put simply, an inclusive culture at work is great for everyone involved, whether it's the companies themselves, their employees, or their shareholders and clients.
How can we help?
People are the most important aspect of any business, so inclusion isn't a just a ‘nice to have’ – it's an essential. We provide diversity and inclusion consultancy in London, Surrey, Hampshire and across the UK, helping our clients to build a diverse talent pool, and to create and sustain an inclusive working culture. Every business is different, so we do this in a way that suits you – whether that means a one-off intervention, short-term consultancy or driving long-term culture change. Making the change so you can reap the benefits of a truly inclusive working culture might not be easy, but with us by your side it doesn't have to be scary. We’re a sounding board, trusted partner and catalyst for change, all in one.
Talk to us today about how we can help.
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