Despite external pressures, companies in Ireland remain committed to workplace diversity but key challenges persist, according to BITCI report.
Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) has released a preview of its latest Elevate Pledge Report, revealing that while signatory companies continue to take action to create more inclusive workplaces, significant gaps remain in certain diversity areas.
The report, which analyses data from over 60 large companies with a combined workforce exceeding 160,000 employees, shows that organisations are prioritising certain aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) over others.
“Employment is the single most important factor in moving people out of poverty. Our signatories firmly believe in the value of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion despite the external pressures to dilute such measures which can create more social divisions”
“Our Elevate Pledge has proven yet again to signatories the importance of gathering data, identifying gaps and taking action to ensure a more diverse workforce is created,” said Linda O’Sullivan, Head of Social Inclusion at BITCI.
“After all, employment is the single most important factor in moving people out of poverty. Our signatories firmly believe in the value of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion despite the external pressures to dilute such measures which can create more social divisions.”
Notable trends in workplace diversity
The report highlights several notable trends in workplace diversity efforts. While increasing female representation at senior levels emerged as the most common key performance indicator (KPI) among signatories, other areas show significant gaps between measurement and action.
For instance, 53% of signatory companies track disability statistics, but only 8% have established disability-related KPIs. Currently, 7% of the Elevate workforce have identified as having a disability, and 6% have disclosed being neurodiverse.
The report also found that 64% of signatories partnered with employment support organizations to widen their recruitment channels, resulting in over 160 new hires. However, while 16% of the signatories’ workforce are from ethnic minority groups, there is an overrepresentation at entry-level positions, suggesting underemployment relative to these individuals’ skills, qualifications, and experience.
Progress in DE&I initiatives
Companies participating in the Elevate Pledge have evolved from implementing one-off actions to pursuing more meaningful initiatives. The report reveals that 84% of signatories have established at least one Employee Resource Group for different diversity areas, though BITCI recommends these groups should have greater autonomy, clear accountability frameworks, and resources to be fully effective.
Half of the signatory companies have set DE&I targets around diverse recruitment, with common actions including job descriptions using neutral language and only listing necessary requirements and skills. However, only 28% have established similar targets for employee development and progression.
In terms of training, General Diversity Awareness and Unconscious Bias Training are the most popular offerings, with 80% of signatories providing at least one of these. Yet only 46% of companies offer such training to all employees.
Tomas Sercovich, BITCI CEO, emphasised the continued importance of DE&I strategies. “The Elevate Pledge was created for companies in 2021 to take tangible steps to reduce the rates of unemployment affecting certain groups such as people with disabilities, lone parents, and migrant communities. It is a vital part of their DE&I strategies.
“The need to continue with such strategies, allocate resources to it, and challenge stereotypes is stronger than ever. Building inclusive pathways for current staff and attracting talent is good for the individual, staff, business growth and community.”
BITCI initiated the Elevate Pledge to encourage companies to proactively measure, disclose, and profile their workforce to better reflect the diversity within society. By signing the pledge, companies make a collective public commitment to social inclusion.
The full report has been developed with oversight from the BITCI Subgroup on Social Inclusion, co-chaired by Harry Goddard, CEO of Deloitte, and Sinead Patton, Chief Financial and Commercial Officer – Ireland and Nordics, Finance Director – Industrial, Water & Energy UK, Veolia.
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
