Three quarters of staff who have experienced discrimination believe their treatment is not just down to one factor such as gender but to a range of identity-related issues, a study has found.

The research, which was published to coincide with the launch of The Inclusive Employers Foundation, revealed that the most commonly cited reasons for discrimination were age, gender and educational background. The survey was carried out by ICM.

The Foundation is a new membership body aimed at organisations of all sizes and sectors and its aim is to promote the creation of more inclusive workplaces. Founder members include industrial and financial conglomerate Nomura, the Co-op, Local Government Employers, Transport for London and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games.

Rachel Krys, the organisation’s director, said that the barriers faced by some groups in accessing and thriving at work were “still enormous” and a mass of initiatives, legislation, guidance and taskforces had so far failed to tackle them effectively. As a result, it was time for employers to take the initiative. 

“For managers faced with ever-changing legal requirements and the constant drive for efficiency, focusing on inclusion rather than taking a scattergun approach to diversity offers significant benefits. The challenge for Inclusive Employers is to develop new models of inclusion, ones which are easily understood, cost-efficient and effective in delivery,” Krys said.

The Foundation has developed policies and procedures that organisations can put in place to avoid being discriminatory in their behaviour. It also offers a helpline to answer questions on both legal and employment issues and intends to host a series of educational and peer networking events.

Article from HR Zone