Organisations which take diversity seriously are likely to have much better employment outcomes, according to the EEO Trust's latest Diversity Survey.
"The employers who measure the outcomes of their diversity policies almost unanimously report positive business outcomes such as improved match with customers/clients and improved recruitment and retention.", says EEO Trust Chief Executive Dr Philippa Reed.
The EEO Trust has conducted a survey of EEO and diversity in New Zealand workplaces since 1997. This year’s EEO Trust Diversity Survey draws on the practices and experiences within workplaces in order to assess how effectively workplaces are tapping into the talents of New Zealand’s diverse workforce.
For the first time, the Diversity Survey explored whether respondents had a workplace culture that supported diversity. This was assessed through questions on whether the workplace was inclusive of diverse cultures, whether senior management believed diversity was important and whether the organisation promoted and advanced diverse talent. The majority of respondents said their organisation had a positive diversity culture.
Since the 2005 Diversity Survey there has been a decline in the proportion of respondents that integrate their diversity strategy into their core business strategy and objectives. Dr Reed says that this may, in part, be due to an increase in new EEO Trust members who are just starting out on their diversity journey.
Accountability of managers for diversity was still low, suggesting that effective diversity management is not seen as critical to the success of respondent organisations. This was consistent with only 28% of respondents including diversity considerations into all their business initiatives and policies.
Gains have been made in the numbers of respondents collecting data to monitor EEO/diversity, mentoring or development of target groups, and compliance of policies and practice with general principles of EEO/diversity.
The full survey report is available from www.eeotrust.org.nz/research/diversity.cfm