Investment in diversity programmes has become commonplace, with 98 per cent of companies offering such programs. But that investment is falling far short of the mark: three-quarters of employees in diverse groups—women, racial/ethnic minorities, and those who identify as LGBTQ—do not indicate that they have personally benefited from their companies’ diversity programs.
This is one of the findings of Fixing the Flawed Approach to Diversity, a new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). A key impediment to progress is that older men (age 45 or older), who often lead decision making within corporate environments, are underestimating the obstacles in the recruiting, retention, and advancement of female and minority employees by 10 per cent to 15 per cent, as measured by comparison with the estimates of members of those actual groups: women, people of color, and LGBTQ employees. This can lead to a misallocation of resources and a lack of investment in programs that could otherwise have the largest impact.
BCG surveyed approximately 16,500 employees across industries and companies globally. Respondents were asked to rank 31 diversity initiatives according to effectiveness.
Miki Tsusaka, a senior partner at BCG and a coauthor of the report, says,
Our research shows a clear, concerning disconnect between the diversity programs that companies offer and the degree to which employees feel they benefit from those programs. Corporate leaders need to step back and look at their companies’ diversity programs, asking whether those programs are truly effective for all employees, across gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
Hidden Gems in Diversity Programming
Fixing the Flawed Approach to Diversity highlights several “hidden gem” initiatives that diverse employee groups value and consider to be effective (although nondiverse groups, particularly male employees, deemed these initiatives to be less of a priority):
Visible role models, parental leave, and childcare assistance are important for women. Women have a strong interest in indicators that suggest advancement is possible. They ranked having a visible role model among the leadership team as the 5th most important diversity initiative a company could offer (but this was 17th most important among men). Further, they ranked parental leave 3rd and childcare assistance, such as backup care or onsite child care, 11th(men considered these offerings to be the 10th and 22nd most important diversity offerings, respectively).
A bias-free workplace is key for racially and ethnically diverse employees, supported by sponsorship. Racially and ethnically diverse employees look for fairer recruiting and advancement decisions as well as sponsorship programs and individual roadmaps for advancement.
LGBTQ employees value a workplace free of bias, supported by structural changes. LGBTQ employees are hoping for real indications of less bias in the work environment, including structural changes such as nonbinary gender designations and gender-neutral restrooms.
The Value of Going Back to Basics
Matt Krentz, a senior partner at BCG and a coauthor of the report, says,
Our data also identified a back-to-basics approach when it comes to improving diversity programs, identifying three fundamental prerequisites for organizations to create change. These measures include focusing on antidiscrimination policies, engaging in bias awareness training, and removing bias from evaluation and promotion decisions.
To develop and deliver effectively on diversity initiatives, companies need to focus on implementation, exemplified by strong leadership commitment, actions that are tailored to drive change (for example, balancing top-down and bottom-up initiatives), and rigorously tracked KPIs.
Interested in Diversity in the workplace? We recommend this Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2019
Aphrodite is a creative writer and editor specialising in publishing and communications. She is passionate about undertaking projects in diverse sectors. She has written and edited copy for media as varied as social enterprise, art, fashion and education. She is at her most happy owning a project from its very conception, focusing on the client and project research in the first instance, and working closely with CEOs and Directors throughout the consultation process. Much of her work has focused on rebranding; messaging and tone of voice is one of her expertise, as is a distinctively unique writing style in my most of her creative projects. Her work is always driven by the versatility of language to galvanise image and to change perception, as it is by inspiring and being inspired by the wondrous diversity of people with whom paths she crosses cross!
Aphrodite has had a variety of high profile industry clients as a freelancer, and previously worked for a number of years as an Editor and Journalist for Prospects.ac.uk.
Aphrodite is also a professional painter.
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