Advancing inclusion in the workforce

Today, I participated in a constructive, informative, and sobering discussion on inclusion, as Business in the Community Ireland launched its new report, Diversity and Inclusion in Focus, in addition to its social inclusive pledge, ELEVATE.

As business leaders, we are all focusing on inclusion within our business. We have been leading conversations on the importance of inclusion, and its societal, business and economic benefits, and rightly so.

Today was different. This was also a discussion on what lack of inclusion really means.

Some stark realities were presented. 

It means that, compared to the general population, a person with a disability is four and a half times more likely to be unemployed, a black person is six times more likely to be unemployed, and a traveller 80% more likely – figures that have likely been exacerbated further by the pandemic.

But lack of inclusion doesn’t just affect employment; it has a bearing on underemployment and progression to third level. The accident of our birth and the different characteristics of our identity have an impact on how easy and seamless our journey through life is. Opportunity is not distributed evenly, and often our access to opportunity is dependent on the intersections of different characteristics, power relations and experiences. 

This is important information for us to know. It’s also important for us to know that we can help. We can take action.

I am proud that BITC commissioned Deloitte to help bring this important information to our attention and so increase our understanding of these realities. The experiences contained within this report are very powerful. It’s an important read, not least because of the actions it highlights that we can all take to try and remove the barriers to opportunity for everyone. It educates us on how we can be good allies.

I have signed Elevate, the inclusive workplace pledge on behalf of Deloitte Ireland. By signing this pledge, we commit to providing the diversity profile of our own workforce, starting with the Executive team. We are also committing to two clear and measurable targets to improve inclusion within our workforce. By doing this, we will be held accountable in our ambition to make progress year on year.

Inclusiveness is something that I truly believe is inherent to our business at Deloitte - something I am proud of, that I consider a strength of our business.

So, what did I learn today? Today’s conversation has highlighted how much more there is to do. It has highlighted the role that we, as businesses, must play in our societies. That we won’t succeed until we all have the opportunity to succeed.

This report focuses the mind on how businesses should reflect the societies in which we operate. And with this focus will come further progress in this hugely important area.

#inclusion #opportunity #ElevatePledge #ImpactThatMatters