Firms that address equality report higher staff engagement

Employers that address race and gender equality, report higher engagement and productivity rates, according to a new survey. 

However, US employers have a long way to go to achieve it, reveals the study carried out by Reputation Leaders. The survey of over 1,000 staff on workplace diversity, inclusion, and racism demonstrates that most employees actually do care a lot about workplace equality. 

In fact, racial equality (45%) and gender equality (39%) are the two top issues that staff expect employers to deliver on, followed by LGBTQ+ (29%) and disability inclusion (29%). “Employers who address race and gender inequality in the workplace can expect a more engaged workforce, which can lead to higher productivity,” confirmed Reputation Leaders’ CEO Laurence Evans. 

The survey also reveals that workers actually do care about an employer’s commitment to purpose. This can result in higher employee engagement for 51% of workers, with 42% staff saying they feel “prouder” to work there. This connection to purpose, however, is more important to younger generations. Approximately 58% of Gen Z/Millennials said this made them feel more engaged in their work, compared to just 37% of Baby Boomers.

RACIAL EQUALITY PROGRESS

However, the survey also revealed that most US employers have a long way to go to address workplace equality, particularly racial equality. Only 46% of US staff believe that their employer has made progress on diversity and inclusion over the last year. Additionally, just 37% of US workers say employers have committed to addressing racism.

In fact, 84% of staff working for organisations that have taken action to address racism, said they felt “proud” to be working for their employer, compared to just 42% working at companies where no action has been taken.

The study, however, revealed that a quarter (26%) of workers believe their employer has not acted on diversity and inclusion at all. A similar number (25%) of US staff said they don’t think that racism exists in the companies they work for (33% White female and 25% White male workers).

YOUNGER PERCEPTIONS

On a positive note, younger generations are more positive about their employer’s progress on diversity and inclusion over the last year. Approximately, 63% of Gen Z and 56% of Millennials said progress has been made, while only 32% of Baby Boomers felt the same. According to a recent survey by Tallo, Gen Z is the generation forcing employers to take diversity and inclusion more seriously, as reported.

Commenting on the results, Evans said: “It shows there is a business case for advancing diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace, while being realistic that this is a journey with a long way to go for most employers.”

Click here to download the report.