Office for National Statistics recently revealed the employment rate for working-age adults with autism is only 22%. Furthermore, a CIPD survey found that employees from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to feel their progression is impacted by their identity and background. This highlights the need for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the UK workforce to address the challenges that individuals face.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are interconnected concepts which are reliant on each other to create a positive and flourishing workplace. Diversity alone cannot achieve progression within a workplace. To progress it is imperative that individuals feel included and that their needs are respected. Furthermore, EDI policies enable organisations to develop by encouraging the sharing of diverse beliefs and perspectives. It also creates an environment where individuals feel able to contribute which enables greater innovation and productivity.

It is important to note that EDI policies are not only significant due to their beneficial nature to the functioning of organisations. But organisations hold the moral obligation to implement EDI policies to enable all to have equal access to employment and progression based on merit and to feel valued and included in workplaces. Furthermore, we live in a globalised, multicultural society and workforces that serve to better society should be representative of it, and this can only be achieved through EDI in workplaces.

This event will highlight the importance of EDI policies in the workplace to create a productive and fairer environment and the strategies organisations can use to embed EDI in employee retention and progression.