90% of Workforce Apprehensive Over Global Economy

In mid-February 2023 WebMD Health Services, a leading organization specialising in well-being initiatives and strategies on health for businesses employing members of the workforce released the results of its report into the public domain aptly named ‘Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging: Uncovering What Employees are Offered, Want and Need’. In its report, it found that approximately ninety per cent of the workforce are experiencing feelings of apprehension about global economic news. Additionally, the report found that just shy of sixty six per cent of business organisations appear to be falling short of their aspired standards on diversity, belonging and inclusion.     

Our Survey Said…

The results of any survey were analysed by organisers of the survey they found that approximately sixty-six of those employed in the workforce and approached for response to the questions put to them were of the opinion that the initiatives seemingly designed for the purpose of promoting Inclusion, belonging and diversity by businesses providing employment to the workforce were not having the desired effect. Ninety-per-cent of those approached for a response communicated to the organisers of the survey posing questions to them, feelings of anxiety over news items affecting the globe and the economy. Just shy of seventy-per-cent of those approached for a response to the survey questions commented feeling the perception of requiring additional support and assistance from businesses which are providing with them with employment. The vast majority of persons who had provided their opinion suggested that such businesses could support them with dealing with pressing issues such as problems from a mental and physical health, monetary and emotional perspective. 

A substantial proportion of those from the workforce who were approached to give their opinion to the survey organisers commented their view that it would be advantageous to them to if the business providing them with employment was genuinely dedicated to furthering inclusion, diversity and belonging in the workplace.  Just shy of fifty per cent of those approached for a response appeared to have commented to the organisers of the survey experiencing personally perceived feelings of being let down by the business providing them with employment on key areas such as diversity, belonging and inclusion. More interesting statistics came to the fore such as: 

• just shy of sixty-per-cent of those responding commented that employers should be doing more to create a sense of ‘belonging’. 

• approximately forty five per cent answering highlighted worries over the subject of ‘diversity’

• thirty-three per cent were of the opinion that their views were not taken seriously by their employers

• in excess of thirty three per cent of respondents believed their employers not grateful to them, felt that their skills are underused and 

• twenty per cent had the perception of feeling like the odd one out, lonely, and marginalised by the business providing them with employment

So What is Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging? 

From the perspective of the survey the definition of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging has at its heart development, support from a mental health perspective, professional coaching, recompense for volunteer work and material for gender identity and sexual health.             

Next Steps…

Based on the findings of this report released by WebMD Health Services businesses need to be taking the following action : 

• ensuring company policies are in place 

• reading items in such documents to confirm they contain items on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI & B).

• create an environment whereby senior and junior levels collaborate closely to improve DEI&B in the workplace.  

This will go a long way to improving these results in future years.  

ASSESSING FIRMS

#Allen&Overy #BakerMcKenzie #HerbertSmithFreehillsLLP #LewisSilkin #MishcondeReya #Simmons&Simmons #AddleshawGoddard #CliffordChanceLLP #CMS #DACBeachcroftLLP #EvershedsSutherlandLLP #LinklatersLLP #TaylorWessing #TraversSmith #Bird&Bird 

THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN USING THE FOLLOWING SOURCES 

[SOURCE 1] WebMD Health Services – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging - WebMD Health Services' 2023 DEIB Research Project - WebMD Health Services

[SOURCE 2] FairPlayTalks – 2/3 Staff Say Employers Not Doing Enough To Foster DEI&B at Work – 13th February 2023 - 2/3 Staff Say Employers Not Doing Enough to Foster DEI&B at Work - Fair Play Talks 

[SOURCE 3] Action for Happiness – Policy on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) – April 2022 - Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging | Action for Happiness

[SOURCE 4] Cave, Dan – Four in five UK business leaders believe flexible working is critical to success, research finds – People Management – 14 December 2023 - Four in five UK business leaders believe flexible working is critical to success, research finds (peoplemanagement.co.uk)

[SOURCE 5] Law Careers.Net – Can I work in law and have a work/life balance? – 01 November 2022 - Can I work in law and have a work/life balance? - The Oracle (lawcareers.net)