A Workday Study Finds That Organizations Are at a Crucial Point in Moving to the Next Level of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity

• Research at the European level shows that while many executives are aware of the importance of prioritizing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, they need to ensure that their actions translate into lasting change.

Workday, Inc., a leader in business cloud applications for finance and HR , announced the results of a European investigation “The State of Fairness, Diversity and inclusion in Europe “which highlights that most organizations believe their executive teams understand the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I), and have invested in the infrastructure to develop it. The research was conducted in the spring of 2021, among more than 2,200 HR professionals and business leaders to understand their motivations, activities and progress in relation to ED&I values. The study, conducted in collaboration with Workday and Sapio Research, was conducted in 14 countries and showed great progress, but also indicated clear areas of opportunity.

In support of its Membership and Diversity program and its stated commitment to Inclusion, Belonging and Equity (VIBE ™), Workday wanted to delve into key trends and discover more around the motivations, activities and progress that there is behind them. From preparing for success with clear goals and using the right data as a solid foundation for informed decision making, to applying a systematic approach and using the technology needed to drive progress. The study found that ED&I values ​​are moving to the heart of the company, providing an opportunity to create lasting change.

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The main conclusions are:

• Three out of four respondents say their executive leadership teams view ED&I values ​​as important
• Three out of four have a budget dedicated to ED&I initiatives and a third say they plan to increase this investment
• A third say that staff commitment is necessary to continue advancing ED&I
• One third do not have a strategic focus on ED&I
• One-fifth have taken some initial steps to create one
• Employee tracking data is being collected, but there are obvious obstacles and limitations in what is being collected, if it is used, and how it is used
• Most say they use technology to support their ED&I initiatives, but their responses suggest they are not making the most of it

Technology that supports ED&I initiatives

In support of these strategies, Workday announced in 2020 its VIBE ™ solutions to help HR leaders advance ED&I within the workplace.

• VIBE Central: VIBE Central gathers data related to diversity and inclusion in a centralized place in Workday Human Capital Management, allowing organizations to set goals and then monitor progress against those goals. Companies can evaluate, measure, compare and manage diversity according to the dimensions they choose

• VIBE Index: The VIBE Index enables HR leaders to establish a diversity strategy and create a tailored plan aimed at driving positive results. Measures performance and outcomes relative to an organization’s efforts in talent acquisition and development, leadership development, employee experience, and corporate culture to provide a heat map that identifies the greatest opportunity for positive change as well as a VIBE Index score to assess overall fairness in the workplace

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Declarations

“At Workday, we believe that diversity and development is a journey, and while we have made great strides, we know that the path to change is not always rapid or linear,” said Carin Taylor, Director of Diversity at Workday. “We are focusing our Diversity efforts in four key areas – recruiting and developing diverse talent, cultivating a culture of belonging, creating inclusive products and technologies, and empowering our communities – and I’m encouraged to see other organizations across Europe they also support them, as reflected in the results of this survey. ”

“At Workday, we work hard to build a diverse workforce. We want the best ideas to drive the best results, which is why we are fostering VIBE  solutions. This not only guides us internally, but also in how we engage with our customers developing innovative products and solutions to help them support the values ​​of belonging and diversity (L&D) in their workplaces, ” said Carolyn Horne, President, EMEA, Workday. “We hope the research results will help us refine our understanding of local nuances and needs to better connect and serve our customer base in EMEA.”

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