Employers urged to address diversity, inclusion issues

MANILA, Philippines — Employers are encouraged to tackle diversity and inclusion issues in their workplace to retain talent effectively, according to cloud-based HR platform Sprout Solutions.

“Diversity and inclusion are critical issues that every organization should address. Filipinos need to feel safe in their workplaces and no one should ever be cut off from opportunities because of his or her background,” Sprout Solutions chief people and customer officer Arlene De Castro said.

“It is imperative for organizations to embrace diversity and inclusion practices and behaviors that will allow people to thrive and grow. Not only will this mean a more engaged workforce, but it also means a more positive environment for everyone. investing in the employee experience helps everyone feel valued, supported, and empowered – in turn, encouraging them to do their best work,” she added.

Sprout Solutions noted that despite the growing recognition of diversity and inclusion, organizations in the Philippines still face difficulties in establishing and implementing effective diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace, citing findings of its State of HR Report.

“Over the years, companies that embrace diversity and inclusion have been better able to tap into a wider talent pool and benefit from diverse perspectives, which leads to better employee engagement and retention,” Sprout Solutions said.

The report found a perception gap between employees feeling included and leaders believing so, with 44 percent of respondents identifying this gap as a barrier to greater diversity and inclusion efforts by their supervisors.

In addition, the survey also found that among HR specialists, 36.2 percent felt neutral about workplace diversity and inclusion, with just 23.2 percent feeling somewhat strongly, and 17.6 percent feeling very strongly about diversity and inclusion.

The survey results also revealed that companies primarily direct their diversity and inclusion efforts toward women, with 26.8 percent reporting this focus.

However, other underrepresented groups, such as gender minorities (16.8 percent), ethnic minorities (9.4 percent), individuals over 50 years old (9.2 percent), religious minorities (8.9 percent), and people with disabilities (5.6 percent), still require attention to ensure comprehensive and inclusive practices.

“To address this, the study underscored the importance of equitable compensation packages in creating an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel valued and empowered,” Sprout Solutions said.

It also noted the urgent need for organizations to address diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace for talents to stay.

The State of HR report covered over 400 HR professionals and over 2,200 employees in various industries and companies in the Philippines.