'In today's workplace, the duty of creating an inclusive environment falls on all of us'
It's no longer just the responsibility of human resources to foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the workplace, according to the latest survey from ManpowerGroup.
The survey, which polled 525 employers in Singapore, revealed that 74% employers agree that talent acquisition plays an important role in fostering a diverse candidate pool.
HR and hiring decision makers also play an important role in creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all.
"Fostering DEIB has shifted from a good to have to a core business strategy for many organisations today," said Linda Teo, country manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore, in a statement.
"In today's workplace, the duty of creating an inclusive environment falls on all of us. While HR is responsible for driving DEIB initiatives, true progress cannot be made unless hiring decision makers are on board as well and walk the talk in their recruitment choices."
DEI initiatives in progress
The findings come as a majority of employers in Singapore begin to invest more in DEI initiatives amid internal pressure, according to a previous report from WorkDay.
In fact, ManpowerGroup's findings revealed that 42% of employers said their company initiatives were on track for increasing the number of women candidates for top-level management.
Another 27% said they expect further progress on gender equality to take place in the next two years.
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According to the report, 42% said the most important drivers of their diversity initiatives are building trust and supporting employee well-being.
Flexible work boosting DEI
Meanwhile, the report also underscored the role of flexible work arrangements in fostering a diverse workplace.
A majority of companies both locally and globally cite flexible work as an important asset in retaining diverse talent and expanding their talent pool.
Nearly 73% of employers also agreed that technology has helped them become more flexible, which helped promote gender equality.
Employers across Singapore have long been encouraged to implement flexible work arrangements to help attract and retain talent, as well as help staff in achieving work-life balance.