Walking the walk: How your DEI efforts are paying off

If you’ve been putting time and energy into your DEI initiatives, congratulations! They’ve been succeeding. According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 69% of working adults are optimistic and characterize their employer’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts as positive, sharing specific initiatives that are most impactful including employee resource groups (ERGs) that promote a more inclusive workplace.  

Keep up the good work

Of those that are optimistic about diversity at their company, many feel either respected, happy, encouraged, or excited by current initiatives. African American employees (42%) are more likely than their white counterparts (29%) to say they are encouraged and excited about DEI efforts with 14% of African Americans saying companies are lacking in their attempts and could do more. 

Advice from the source’s mouth

Just over 1 in 5 employees (22%), including 35% of Gen Z workers, remain critical and skeptical, citing that their employer is either not doing enough, missing the mark or that DEI efforts are non-existent.

As part of the survey, employees shared tips for how companies can actively improve their diversity efforts: 

Get the message out

About one in five employees say that diversity is also achieved through floating holidays for different cultures and practices, improved diversity messaging on marketing and website materials, and the creation of employee resource groups, or ERGs. Additionally, African American adults, Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than their counterparts to say these types of initiatives make them feel like a company is being more diverse. 

Group think

Notably, the majority of U.S. adults (72%) say ERGs specifically play a critical role in promoting DEI including almost one in four of Millennials and Gen Z’ers who cite ERGs as an essential solution to growing diversity. Importantly, Gen Z says ERGs enhance their employee experience (37%) and encourage them to stay at a company (30%) — aspects which can be important early in their growing careers. 

Recognizing the value of ERGs, U.S. adults say these are some additional benefits: 

• 33% say ERGs make them feel heard and valued
• 32% say they promote cultural awareness 
• 30% suggest they foster an inclusive workplace 
• 29% say they improve company innovation and culture 
• 27% agree they provide an opportunity to meet colleagues

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