One-in-four people do not feel valued at work, and those who do are mostly in senior positions, according to a new report of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Although diverse and inclusive workplaces generate greater productivity, innovation and well-being, too little is being done to make them a reality – particularly inclusion of minority groups – leaving enterprises, workers and societies missing out on significant gains, "Transforming Enterprises through Diversity and Inclusion" report, launched Wednesday, says.
"An equal, diverse and inclusive workplace is a key driver of resilience and recovery," said Manuela Tomei, director of ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department.
While previous diversity and inclusion studies tended to focus on large multinational companies in high-income western countries, Transforming Enterprises has taken a different approach.
It gathers information from staff, managers, and senior executives encompassing diverse ages, genders, ethnicities, races, and religions in businesses of all sizes, throughout lower-middle income and upper-middle income economies.
Read: Inflation rate is double than the BBS data, says SANEM in a report
The report finds that a sense of workplace inclusion is more likely to be associated with seniority, as opposed to personal background or characteristics.
Ninety-two percent of senior staff felt included, respected, and valued at work, compared to 76 percent of lower-level respondents.
The workforce in medium-sized multinational companies were also more likely to feel positive than those in small national enterprises.
Diversity and inclusion play a "critical role… in the high performance of the workforce, businesses, economies and societies globally," the report says. "If inclusion remains a privilege experienced only by those at senior levels, enterprises risk missing out on…considerable benefits."
Only a quarter of respondents reported that women made up a critical mass of 40 to 60 percent of top management – and a third pointed out that there were no persons with disabilities at senior levels.
Read: World Bank projects developing East Asia Pacific to grow 5 pct in 2022
Some minority groups, which tended to be clustered in junior levels, also consistently reported fewer positive experiences of being included.
The pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities in our economies and societies, said Manuela.
The report says that the most likely way to influence enterprises to create sustainable and transformational change is by combining the business case for diversity and inclusion with policies, legislative frameworks and supportive enterprise values.
Employees need to feel they are valued, respected, fairly treated and empowered through inclusive business practices, inclusive organizational culture and inclusive leadership, said Deborah France-Massin, director of ILO Bureau for Employers' Activities.