Whilst the aims and projected benefits of diversity policies and approaches vary
considerably, companies tend to see improvements on a number of key fronts,
including: effecting culture change; improving workforce diversity and cultural mix;
enhancing market opportunities; external recognition and image. This is reflected in the
functional areas that their diversity initiatives are targeted towards (Table 5).
Effecting culture change and enhancing organisational capital
In line with the importance companies increasingly place on shared corporate values
and philosophy, the efforts of many companies focus on achieving lasting culture
change. In promoting organisational environments that respect diversity and practice
anti-discrimination, businesses are very aware of the need to achieve active employee
support for their equality initiatives.
The EBTP consultation (the European Business Test Panel) highlighted discriminatory
attitudes and behaviours in the workplace as a key obstacle in promoting diversity
approaches and practices. For many companies therefore, strategies to raise awareness
and understanding about diversity issues and policies is a fundamental part of the
process of implementing equality initiatives. This desire to raise awareness and win ‘hearts and minds’ is evident in the titles and slogans of many company diversity
programmes. Examples include: ‘Everyone is Welcome at Tesco’, ‘Open Minds, Open
Markets’ (UBS), ‘Getting Older, Thinking Younger’ (Pfizer Deutschland), and ‘Success
Through Inclusion’ (Barclays PLC). Diversity policies that contribute to the creation of
environments that promote respect and inclusiveness are seen by many companies as
essential to business success, Can you not insert the table so that it does not cut the
sentence?