Has DEI been ‘holistically neglected’ by the C-suite?

'Organizations have often put less effort into inclusion and equity than they have into diversity'

BY Emily Douglas 08 Mar. 2023

Inclusion is a must for employees heading into 2023, with a report from Glassdoor finding that 76% of employees would rather work for an authentically DEI-driven company and 80% of workers are looking at a company’s inclusivity before applying for a role.

In HRD’s recent research looking into 5-Star Diversity and Inclusion Employers, we discovered just how essential DEI is to employee sentiment – with many employees and employers ranking it as one of the most important aspects of a company make-up.

Speaking to Alex Lovell, director, research and data science at O.C. Tanner, he tells HRD that while some companies have been making an effort with DEI, it’s chronically overlooked.

“I’d argue that DEI has holistically been neglected,” he says. “Many organizations have focused exclusively on diversity, and typically from a risk mitigation standpoint. Furthermore, after significant events in several Western countries, there’s been an increase in performative DEI.

“Organizations have often put less effort into inclusion and equity than they have into diversity. Part of this is natural – organizational risk is typically more expensive in the short term due to diversity issues. It is time to rethink the way our organizations work.”

If there’s a time to renew your onus on DEI, it’s now. The ongoing talent shortage coupled with mass layoffs and economic uncertainty is wreaking havoc on HR leaders, with people opting to jump ship just to work for a more ethical employer.

As Rolddy Leyva, chief diversity officer at technology giant Splunk, tells HRD, it’s time to grab the bull by the horns and embrace your equity strategies.

“Far too often, diversity is treated as one item on a list of countless boxes to check when assessing company culture and public image,” he says. “The most impactful DEI leaders pull rich perspectives from every corner and it’s critical you have the ability to assess, listen and amplify voices within an organization. DEI cannot be exclusive to any one team or person – everyone has a role to play, an experience to share and an ear to give.”