Employees Report Optimism About DEI Initiatives

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues were a popular topic among the speakers and education sessions at ISSA Show North America 2022, held last week in Chicago. A new survey from Career Builder found that 69% of working adults are optimistic about their employers’ DEI efforts, describing the initiatives as positive and effective in promoting a more inclusive workplace.

Black employees were more likely (42%) than their white colleagues (29%) to say they are encouraged and excited about workplace DEI efforts. However, about 22% of workers overall (including 35% of Generation Z employees) remain critical, explaining that their employer is either not doing enough to support DEI, is missing the mark, or is failing to initiate any DEI efforts.

Survey respondents shared some ideas of how companies can actively improve their diversity efforts including:

• Hiring a more diverse workforce (48%)
• Promoting diversity across employees and leadership (41%)
• Improving company policies and practices (25%)
• Offering bias and diversity training for recruiters and leadership (21%)

About one out of five employees believes that companies can achieve diversity by offering floating holidays, improving diversity messaging on marketing and website materials, and creating employee resource groups (ERGs).

Survey participants reported several benefits to ERGs:

• 33% said ERGs make them feel heard and valued
• 32% said ERGS promote cultural awareness
• 30% suggested ERGs foster an inclusive workplace
• 29% said ERGs improve company innovation and culture
• 27% agreed ERGs provide an opportunity to meet colleagues.