New guide to improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace published

A Diversity and Inclusion Guide for Businesses has been published by The Professional Business Service Council (PBSC), aimed at helping companies to improve their workplace.

The importance of embracing diversity and inclusion in the workplace is stressed as a way of attracting and retaining the most talented staff.

Diverse factors

Gender equality is still a hot topic in the world of business, but a number of other factors such as ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation and age can play an equally important role in the way a business operates.

Understanding the issues can lead to increased productivity and staff performance levels as well as help the overall reputation of a business.

Three-step programme

The new PBSC guide suggests adopting a three-step programme to improve diversity, which entails first identifying issues, then taking action and subsequently reporting on progress.

Identifying the issues affecting the business that might arise from factors based on diversity means analysing data from across the company, such as that gathered via internal communication channels or the implementation of regular surveys.

The guide also suggests companies take action by establishing diversity and setting up inclusion councils to push forward change.

Finally, goals and objectives should be measured and reported on openly.

Screening processes can ensure policies on diversity and inclusion that may be adapted actually work and help them be seen as a priority.

The guide has a useful checklist and is recommended by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), who say they have "been doing a lot in this space in recent years and are keen to do more."