Employee Benefits poll: Two-thirds (67.5%) of employers said they are still maintaining their current diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) budget and focus, according to a survey of Employee Benefits readers.
Meanwhile, more than one-fifth (22.5%) of respondents said they are not maintaining their current DEI budget and focus, and one in 10 (10%) said they were unsure.
Last month, Employee Benefits reported that three-quarters of UK employers are still running DEI programmes and protecting related budgets, according to research by employee experience platform Culture Amp.
Its survey of more than 1,000 UK organisations found that 74% of respondents have a DEI programme, with 26% having increased funding compared to the previous year. One-third (33%) have a DEI programme, while their budget for it remains stable.
Aubrey Blanche-Sarellano, vice president, equitable operations at Culture Amp, said: “At a time when some high-profile global firms are rolling back on DEI commitments, a big majority of UK employers are still committed to building workplaces where people are treated fairly and with respect.
“It’s also striking that support for diversity and inclusion policies in UK workplaces is strongest among older age groups. These are more likely to be senior management and line managers that see the benefits of more equitable workplaces and can lead systemic change in their organisation. While UK firms are facing pressures on DEI programme budgets, many are embedding equity into core business processes such as hiring, evaluating the employee experience and employee engagement, to drive structural change while staying within budget.”
