Workplace Report (July 2009)

Equality news

Diversity still important in recession

Employers still see diversity as an important priority despite the downturn, according to the latest benchmarking survey from Opportunity Now, the business-led organisation that promotes gender equality and diversity.

Its 2008-09 analysis finds that 86% of employers say they are still commiting financial resources to helping create more diverse workplaces, up from 81% in 2006.

The report, Measuring progress: meeting challenges, surveyed practices in 77 major employers in the private and public sectors. It also found that three-quarters (74%) of organisations can make a link between their diversity initiatives and employee engagement.

Meanwhile almost all employers (96%) said they had a senior level leader championing the importance of diversity in their organisation – in almost a fifth (19%) this was the chief executive.


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