'Creating a culture of equality must be top of the business agenda'
There’s a significant gap between the way leaders and employees view progress toward equality in their organizations, according to a report by Accenture.
While 70 per cent of business leaders in Canada feel they create an empowering workplace culture, only 40 per cent of employees agree.
And the proportion of employees who do not feel included in their organizations is nine times higher than leaders believe (18 per cent versus two per cent), said the report, based on a survey of more than 30,000 employees in 28 countries, with more than 1,700 senior executives per country.
In Canada, almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of business leaders believe an inclusive workplace culture is vital to the success of their business. This is backed by 79 per cent of women and 65 per cent of men who believe that workplace culture is critical to help them thrive in the workplace.
However, most leaders rank diversity and workplace culture low on their list of top organizational priorities: 83 per cent ranked financial performance as the top priority, followed by brand recognition (70 per cent) while 35 per cent ranked diversity and 18 per cent ranked culture at the top.
“Creating a culture of equality must be at the top of the business agenda. It starts with the belief that diversity is not only the right thing to do, but a business imperative that is treated the same as any other strategic priority,” says Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture. “When a strong, equal workplace culture is prioritized, everyone benefits — and, as a result, organizations unlock greater innovation and growth.”
The report, Getting to Equal, lays out steps to help close perception gaps and drive progress toward a more equal culture that include: bold leadership, comprehensive action and an empowering environment
