AS THE LANDSCAPE OF WORKING CHANGES, WHY SHOULD COMPANIES STRIVE TO ACHIEVE TRUE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION?
A specialist group that helps businesses promote equality, diversity and inclusion has detailed why modern companies should strive to achieve this post-Covid-19.
Richard Gilbert, 58, is the founder of The Equilibrium Network, one of the few licensed Committed 2 Equality (C2E) accredited providers in the country. He says that an organisation committed to equality, diversity and inclusion benefits in many ways.
“First off, you’re getting a wider talent pool with all the advantages and strengths of having a mix of different people with different experiences and views,” Richard said. “This leads to better decision making in general, brought about by having a more diverse workforce with different perspectives.
“There’s also the case for increased staff retention with fewer people feeling excluded by their peers. Naturally, this leads to less recruitment and training costs.”
With a passion for making a difference in various industries, breaking down racism, sexism and discrimination in all areas of the workplace, Richard created The Equilibrium Network in 2010. His goal was to develop a team of specialists that could help businesses transition into progressive leaders that inspire their diverse teams to grow, collaborate and flourish.
“With a more inclusive and diverse workplace, there is a general sense of a greater cultural understanding,” he said. “It is particularly vital for a multinational or a national company with different demographics in different areas in respect of its staff, customers, suppliers and stakeholders.
“In turn, the business will see greater productivity and a greater sense of health and wellbeing generated by having a more inclusive workforce – and a more settled one. This is because you don’t have people leaving every five minutes!”
Richard explains that better connections and relationships occur organically with the wider community served a more diverse one as a direct result.
“Engendering a culture of inclusion means that staff know that irrespective of who they are or where they come from,” he added. “Whether it be gender, the god(s) they pray to (or not), the colour of their skin, who they sleep with, how mobile they are and how old they are – they will advance their career on merit alone.”
The Equilibrium Network, based in Potton, Bedfordshire, believes that promoting these are all essential to a successful business in the 21st century, not just in terms of employment policies but in all levels and areas of the business.
