DEJI Digital by Green Park, the UK’s premier talent firm dedicated to fostering diverse and equitable workplaces, has disclosed that two-thirds of UK workers feel their workplaces lack crucial anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
Additionally, a staggering 73 percent of respondents expressed that their management does not promote respect and inclusivity within the workplace.
The findings, based on a comprehensive survey conducted in collaboration with Opinium and involving 1257 participants, paint a concerning picture of the state of diversity and inclusivity in the UK job market:
- 66% of UK workers indicate their workplace lacks anti-discrimination or anti-harassment policies.
- 68% report the absence of clear and accessible pathways for reporting discrimination or harassment.
- 70% state the lack of supportive resources, such as counselling services.
- 73% believe their leadership fails to foster respect and inclusivity.
- 75% confirm the absence of training sessions addressing bias and promoting professional conduct.
DEI budgets
These alarming figures emerge against a backdrop of intense discussions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusivity budgets. Notably, last year witnessed calls from the Chancellor and the Health Secretary for the elimination of diversity manager positions within the UK Government and NHS. Simultaneously, global giants like Google and Meta have announced cuts to their corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) policies as part of wider budget reduction measures.
This revelation also coincides with the Labour Party’s recent announcement that, if elected, it would extend equal pay rights, currently applicable to women, to black, Asian, and minority ethnic workers.
What contributes to a hostile workplace environment?
Bontle Senne, Co-Founder and CEO at DEJI Digital, remarked, “This research underscores that communication and understanding gaps, whether through unintentional bias or lack of awareness about inclusion and diversity, are contributing to a hostile work environment. Most managers have not received adequate training in DE&I, and current tools can be ineffective or inaccessible for continuous, real-time support. As companies face threats to their DE&I budgets, it is imperative to explore innovative solutions to safeguard both employee well-being and overall profitability.”
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
