The Business Case for Diversity – Good Practices in the Workplace

European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

(report produced by: Focus Constancy Ltd., The Conference Board Europe)

2005

Free

Free

English, French, German

European Commission

DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
B-1049 Brussels /BELGIUM

Contact form on the website (see below)

 http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=780 (PDF Document for Download)

General Guidance

Diversity management

The Business Case for Diversity is a best practice guide that provides a selection of successful and innovative examples of good practice in diversity management, implemented by employers and businesses across the European Union.

The Business Case for Diversity builds on a study launched by the European Commission on good practice in the implementation of diversity and anti-discrimination measuresin the workplace. It provides a framework, supported by case studies, illustrating the business case for diversity across the EU. It can serve to promote the development of diversity policies in companies, indicating the perceived business benefits, specific challenges and the means for overcoming such challenges.

On the basis of two surveys, conducted in 2005 among companies of various sizes and from different industrial sectors operating in the enlarged European Union (then 25 Member States), diversity-awareness and business practices were investigated and examples of good practice were identified in the areas of race and ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability and religion or belief., These examples were selected as case studies for the compendium so that other businesses could learn from the experiences and insights when implementing their own diversity policies.

The Business Case for Diversity consists of four main parts:

• Outline of the approach, methodology and selection criteria; Thematic analysis of the consultation and good practice research findings of the European Business Test Panel (EBTP);
• Conclusions and next steps;
• Presentation of case studies of good practice in workplace diversity and anti-discrimination.

No.

However, monitoring is stressed as an essential criterion for the effective implementation of workplace diversity. Among good practice companies, many undertake a range of goal-setting and monitoring activities as well as internal and external benchmarking to support their diversity approaches.

Companies

Additional (according to LARRGE evaluation): civil society, consultants, employers' organisations

All sectors

All regions

Medium and large businesses

Yes. The Business Case for Diversity provides a broad spread of good practice/case studies across approximately 10 European Union Member States. It provides some level of geographic balance, as well as a balance between companies from various sectors and of different sizes.

No

No

No

EU Racial Equality Directive 2000/43/EC

EU Employment Equality Directive 2000/78/EC

The Business Case explains that a broad regulatory framework exists to promote equality and anti-discrimination in the workplace, including national legislation but also sector-specific regulations (e.g. industry standards and awards).

Productive and freely chosen work

Right to work

Prohibition of forced or compulsory labour

Prohibition of child labour

Rights at work including the core labour standards

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination between women and men, gender issues

Right to equal treatment and non-discrimination concerning all other groups

Diversity Management

Right to education

Right to safe and healthy working conditions

Right to fair wages

Right to equal pay for equal work

Right to decent living

Right to rest, leisure and annual leave

Right to reasonable limitation of working hours

Right to permanent employment relationship

Right to privacy

Right to strike

Right to form and join trade unions

Grievance procedures and remediation

Social protection

Right to social security including social insurance, pensions

Mitigation of adverse employment effects

Social dialogue

Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining

Tripartite consultation

External impact

Right to an adequate standard of living

Security issues, private property protection

Right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

• Customers / consumers
• Discrimination
• Diversity / equal opportunities
• Migrant workers
• Minorities
• Recruitment and employment practices
• Training, skills and talent
• Working conditions

No

No

No

No

One of the biggest challenges in addressing workplace diversity and anti-discrimination is the lack of information and awareness of the issues and practices. The Business Case for Diversity takes up this issue, and provides a useful and thorough thematic overview of the current corporate diversity situation in Europe. It considers the drivers for diversity policy and practice, implementation, and the perceived benefits, challenges and impacts of diversity measures.

The collection of best practice examples provides added value. The compendium highlights the activities of companies that seek to embrace their social responsibility in terms of workplace diversity and anti-discrimination.

Use the tool in order to gain an overview of corporate diversity and equality strategies pursued in the European Union, and to understand the business benefits these approaches deliver - illustrated by the considerable number of good practice examples.

busicase_en.pdf