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19th June 2008
Firms that take steps to improve diversity in the workplace earn real business benefits, according to a joint report published recently by the TUC and CBI.
Companies who look beyond the “usual suspects” for staff and employ people on the basis of their abilities and potential, regardless of their sex, race, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion can benefit in many ways, including:
• Higher morale and productivity, improved retention rates and lower recruitment costs
• Better understanding of customers' needs and greater insight to reach untapped markets
• Help in addressing skills shortages.
The report, Talent not Tokenism, shows that promoting diversity need not be expensive, complex or a legal minefield for business. And it identifies some key ingredients for bringing about change, including leadership from senior management and employee involvement, especially through unions and other workforce representatives.
It also makes clear that diversity can be improved through positive action - such as removing bias against older workers, developing strong links with local communities and offering flexible shift patterns to help working parents - not positive discrimination.
The case studies in the report illustrate how companies, from small family-run firms to multinationals like IBM and GSK, have improved their workplace diversity and the advantages in doing so. The report also contains tips and advice from senior executives at 10 leading companies, including BT, Barclays, Shell and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
To download a copy of Talent Not Tokenism, the business benefits of workforce diversity, go to: www.tuc.org.uk/extras/talentnottokenism.pdf