Three-quarters of UK employers are still running diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes and protecting DEI 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% of these having increased funding compared to the previous year. One-third (33%) have a DEI programme with the budget remaining stable.
The research also highlighted that more respondents have brought DEI programmes into their core business operations to manage budget pressures, with 40% adding DEI questions to their hiring processes to attract more diverse talent. Meanwhile, 36% are adding diversity questions to engagement surveys to capture diversity demographics.
Just over a tenth (13%) said they think their organisation invests too much time and money in DEI programmes, while 47% disagree and 37% are undecided about this.
When asked if their organisation is too woke, 28% agreed, 41% disagreed, and 27% were non-committal. More than half (56%) of respondents aged over-55 and half of those aged 45-54 disagree with the idea that their organisation is too woke, while 35% of the 25-34 age group and 27% of 16-24 year-olds do so.
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.”
