Senior executives are under increasing scrutiny today for their company’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Movements such as gender equity and Black Lives Matter have made it clear most DE&I efforts have been ineffective. The “ALL Report,” a new handbook for business leaders, lays a framework to make DE&I a core company value that aligns with business objectives, spurs productivity and increases profitability.
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The “ALL Report” combines deep research into corporate culture with author Diane Primo’s practical insights as a former Fortune 500 C-suite executive and currently the nation’s only Black female CEO of a purpose-driven communications firm. “Changing the equation on DE&I is more critical than ever right now if our nation hopes to avert looming workforce shortages and stay competitive,” Primo explains.
Corporate America and the public agree. Investors and boards of directors are demanding measurable results on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, and customers increasingly factor DE&I into their purchasing decisions. The “ALL Report” connects this new focus on corporate social responsibility with the pivotal role employees can and should play in corporate transformation.
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Inclusion Activates and Accomplishes Workplace Culture Change
“Just as organizations retooled for COVID-19, they must reinvent their processes, communications and structure for a workforce that is changing in critical ways,” says Primo, CEO of the Purpose Brand marketing and public relations firm. “Employees identify with organizations that commit to doing the right thing—and then execute on that commitment.”
Given that our nation is facing talent retention issues—which are intensified by impending workforce shortages—the “ALL Report” is timely. It confronts the urgent business need to attract and retain talent and shows that employees recognize and appreciate steps business leaders take across divisions and sectors to support inclusion in the workplace.
In fact, business leaders hold the key to DE&I success. “Our research shows senior executives must take the lead to achieve true diversity, equity and inclusion. It takes embracing cultural change, rewarding innovation and demanding results,” Primo says.
The key is to value all employees, and to respect them with actions that show true commitment, Primo points out. “Diverse employees have different insights into the challenges corporations face, and this is a critical need as we are becoming a majority-minority nation. Furthermore, workers see worth in practical solutions, which is an encouraging sign for organizations that want to make rapid change.”
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