Research is increasingly suggesting that diversity policies, mandatory diversity training and putting the diversity agenda in the hands of managers have a very limited effect on diversity within a business and that having grievance processes in place can often lead to retaliation rather than re-educating managers’ attitudes. However, having a diversity department and targeted recruitment and promotion are effective as is increasing contact within the business with women and minorities. So the question has to be, are we listening to the evidence of what works and what doesn’t and responding to it or are we ticking boxes?
The recent series of articles in the Harvard Business Review (July-August 2016) on diversity are fascinating and well worth reading if this is an area of interest for you.