The workforce has undergone significant changes, resulting in diverse needs and varying benefits requirements.
Speaking at the Benefit Expert summit Anna Cotgreave, head of reward and benefits at Clifford Chance covered how to ensure PMI offering is truly inclusive. She discussed identifying the diverse needs of a workforce and shared top tips for employers.
Cotgreave explains that according to the 2021 census data, nearly one in five of the 59.6 million UK residents belong to a non-white background. Additionally, insights reveal that menopause symptoms differ across ethnicities, and cancer rates exhibit variations – for instance, black men are more susceptible to prostate cancer than their white counterparts.
Furthermore, around 300,000 people in the UK identify differently from their assigned gender at birth, highlighting the importance of acknowledging and accommodating diverse identities in the workplace.
For employers seeking to foster inclusivity, Cotgreave suggests tips such as prioritising comprehensive data analysis beyond gender and exploring social mobility, age, and ethnicity. She said it’s crucial to examine intersections where these factors overlap.
Moreover, maintaining open communication channels for feedback ensures that every employee feels heard, and, most importantly, acting upon received feedback contributes to building a genuinely inclusive workplace.