The business case for Equality and Diversity

The business world is an ever-changing place and the speed of change is increasing as new technologies are introduced. This puts pressure on your staff who are your most important asset and some cope better than others. The support you provide is therefore critical to their performance and continued production and creativity. In addition, it is well accepted that organisations that encourage and embrace diversity are better able to be creative and adapt to change.

Is your company ready for 21st century business? Here are the benefits

Access a further 20% of the potential workforce
Recruit and retain highly skilled and engaged staff
Lower sickness and absenteeism
Lower staff turnover and retraining costs
Positively contribute to the community
Increase your innovation and creativity
Improve access to new business and markets
Increase productivity and profitability

Looking after your staff is looking after your business

Workplace stress is the largest cause of mental ill-health
1 in 4 people will experience mental ill-health in their lifetime
172 million working days per year are lost through mental ill-health
Mental ill-health costs business £9 billion per year
Over 50% of employees conceal mental ill-health at work
Over 11% ofemployees leave their job due to mental ill-health

Eradicate stigma

Promoting Equality and Diversity creates inclusive organisations that eradicate the stigma which is often attached to people with disabilities.

1 in 3 people are disabled or close to someone that is
20% of the potential working population are disabled
1 in 8 employees have a disability which can be seen or unseen
Only 5% of people with disabilities use wheelchairs
The buying power of disabled consumers is over £80 billion a year
83% of disabled consumers only use disability-friendly companies

Fact: Employees with disabilities are as skilled, stay with their employers longer, take less time off through illness and are happier than their able counterparts.

The Equality Act 2010: avoid potential litigation!

This is there to protect people and employees from discrimination, ensuring equal treatment for all. Through knowledge of the Act and embracing Equality and Diversity in your organisation, you will avoid expensive litigation.

New business opportunities

Many organisations will now only conduct business with companies that can demonstrate compliance with The Equality Act. Make sure you are one of them.

Note: figures and data come from the Office for National Statistics