Results of a recent survey by Momentive (formerly SurveyMonkey) indicate that while nearly two thirds of employees consider workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to be an important driver of organizational success, fewer than half of C-level executives agree, “with nearly half considering DEI ‘a distraction from our company’s real work’” (J. Wilson, Are DEI initiatives ‘distracting from real work’? Canadian HR Reporter, 11-Aug-2021). Momentive CEO Zander Lurie says this makes it clear that “many executives are painfully out of touch”. At the same time, over two thirds of employees “find their employer’s DEI work meaningful”.
Given the growing evidence that DEI is not only positive but in fact increasingly necessary for workplaces to survive and thrive, senior leaders who fail to embrace this may find themselves at the helm of a sinking ship.
What influence do you think DEI has on organizational success?
What do you think?
