Why is Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging So Important?

Article - HR
By Stephanie Garey|13th May 2022

D&B, DI&B, DE&I? No matter which acronym you or your organisation choose, the conversation around diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging has never been more prevalent. We can all agree we’ve collectively talked at length about DI&B in the workplace, and businesses know what they should be doing (don’t they?) but do we know why we’re doing it? Let’s explore…

The best talent demand change

“As a company, it’s about time we started to make sure that we treat every single person as unique in every single way that we can.”
Liane Hornsey, CHRO at Palo Alto Networks, at the GDS HR Summit 2021

In these times of talent wars and the Great Resignation, it’s important to remember that the best talent demand change. According to Glassdoor, two out of three job candidates seek companies that have diverse workforces, regardless of whether they class themselves as from a minority background or not. That’s huge.

Each month in the US, 3 to 4.5 million employees quit their jobs, according to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). But one survey found 94% would stay at their current employer if they invested in their long-term learning. A senior executive from Gloat recently said on one of our GDS Group roundtables, “it is so much easier to find your next job opportunity outside of your company than inside. We need to figure out how people can find their next job within the company before your competitors hire them.” And we couldn’t agree more.

The best way to retain employees is by making them feel valued and providing them the opportunity for growth within your organization. When an employee does not feel valued or included at work, 76% will look for another job opportunity, and this is hugely linked to DI&B. Are those who don’t feel like they belong doing their best work? Of course not.

It’s good for business

“Belonging is the ultimate competitive advantage in the war for talent 2.0”
Minh Hua, Chief Talent Officer at Stanley Black and Decker, at the GDS HR Summit 2021

The time, energy and costs spent on finding, recruiting, training and retaining top talent is massive. According to Apollo Technical, it costs an employer an average of 33% of an employee’s yearly salary for their exit.

Further to this, having a diverse workforce is good for business. According to McKinsey, the US GDP could increase by a staggering 26% by equally diversifying the workforce. We say again, this is huge! Job performance stands to increase by 56%, according to Gallup, when there is a strong sense of belonging. How much more could your business achieve if job performance across the board increased by this much?

Having a diverse workforce helps build a strong sense of community, helps people feel they belong, blossoms brilliant new ideas, and considers all elements of a business and consumers where a less diverse workforce wouldn’t. It just makes good sense for business to put real time, effort and money behind DI&B policies, actions and programmes.

The impact of the pandemic

“People don’t leave companies; they leave poor environments and bad bosses.”
Senior executive at Commerzbank 

We mustn’t forget the impact COVID-19 has had on minorities. 44% of Black and 61% of Hispanic individuals experienced job and wage loss throughout the pandemic, according to research by Strada. McKinsey found that women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable to this crisis than men’s. This is just the tip of the iceberg. It reiterates the importance of finding and retaining the best talent during the Great Resignation, to get the best business results. And the way to do this is by truly creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.

GDS Summits are tailored 3-day virtual event conferences that bring together business leaders and solution providers to accelerate sales cycles, industry conversations and outcomes. Regarding the HR Digital Summit, 88% of Delegates said the overall experience of the Digital Summit they attended was either Above Average or Excellent, and 100% of Delegates said the Digital Summit provided them with actionable outcomes to support their current initiatives.

For more, click here to hear from attendees on how GDS has helped them to achieve their business outcomes.

Continue the debate at GDS’ HR Summits where we bring together senior human resources executives who are actively seeking to share, learn, engage, and find the best solutions.

Apply to Attend

Back to insights

Related content

HR
Podcast

Talent: Where to find it, how to recruit it, how to keep it motivated

Join award-winning recruiter Rob Kenward as we explore how to find, motivate and retain your top performers.
Find out more
HR
Podcast

Building a culture of engagement: Strategies for success

Delve into the world of employee engagement leadership and learning emotional intelligence with Christine Heckart, CEO and Founder at Xapa.
Find out more
HR
Article

Using technology to make hiring more human

How can AI streamline and simplify the application process, optimize efficiency for recruiters and get applicants to their first day of work fast?
Tim Cassidy
Find out more
HR
Article

Unlocking the future of HR:Highlights from the GDS Group HR Summit 2023

Discover the compelling insights and cutting-edge trends that are transforming the HR landscape from the GDS Group HR Summit 2023.
Stephanie Garey
Find out more
HR
Article

Going Global: The Advantages and Disadvantages of Borderless Hiring

The way we work has changed – and so too has the way we hire
Alex Wood
Find out more
HR
Article

The New Changemakers:How Gen Z is Transforming the Future of Work

Read about generation Z and what makes them the new disruptors poised to reshape the future of work and what they want from their career.
Michelle Brown
Find out more
HR
Article

Employee Upskilling in 2023:Five Reasons Why It is Key for Business Success

Upskilling has always mattered. But in 2023, it will matter even more. Here’s why.
Alex Wood
Find out more
HR
Article

Thriving in the Digital First Workplace:The Future of Work

Read about some of the skills you’ll need to succeed in the digital-first era and how to incorporate them into thriving in a digital world.
Michelle Brown
Find out more
HR
Article

Stop the Bleeding:How Do We Keep Nurses?

Kelley Iuele
Find out more