Most CHROs & CEOs remain responsible for DE&I efforts

The majority of companies prefer to entrust diversity, equity and inclusion efforts with their chief human resources officer (CHRO) or CEO, XpertHR’s latest study has revealed. 

CHROs are either partially or fully responsible for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts at 52% of US companies, according to XpertHR’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer Trends Survey 2021. The CEO, president or owner is at least partially responsible for DE&I at 36% of organisations; followed by volunteer employee groups, such as ERGs (15%), chief DE&I officer (11%), chief operating officer (7%), chief financial officer (5%), general counsel (4%) and outside consultants (2%). Interestingly no one is officially responsible for DE&I at 17% of responding organisations

“The survey results show that chief DE&I officer positions are uncommon, and that instead, organisations prefer to entrust diversity, equity and inclusion efforts to their CHRO,” noted Andrew Hellwege, Surveys Editor at HR Solutions platform XpertHR.

MOST POPULAR DE&I TRAINING

The survey also found that the most common DE&I-related training offered is anti-harassment training; which is conducted at 70% of responding companies. Anti-discrimination training (56%) and unconscious bias training (48%) are the second-most and third-most common training offered, respectively. 

However, other diversity training options, such as training on microaggressions (21%), psychological safety (11%) and allyship (10%) remain uncommon. Interestingly, few organisations provide DE&I training that is specifically geared toward executives (11%), managers (20%) or non-managers (15%).

DE&I AUDITS

The survey also explored DE&I audits, and found that fewer than one in five (14%) responding organisations have conducted a DE&I audit; compared with 29% that have not conducted one, but are planning to conduct one in the near future. However, 39% that have not conducted one and have no immediate plans to do so.

“While few responding employers have conducted a diversity, equity and inclusion audit, about three in 10 are planning to do so in the near future; indicating that there is some potential for the growth in popularity of DE&I audits,” added Hellwege. 

Click here for more information about the report.

Workplace HR priorities have shifted to employee wellbeing, mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), according to another new study. Click here to read more.