Hybrid workforce has had a positive impact on diversity and inclusion: Report

Eighty-one per cent of Indians think that workplace disruptions driven by the pandemic have had a positive impact on the diversity, equity and inclusion of their organisation, while 69 per cent of the survey participants said that they wanted to achieve their DE&I goals in the next two years, according to a recent report by chip-maker Intel.  

The survey by Intel was conducted among 3,136 business decision makers and influences of diversity, equity and inclusion policies in organisations employing more than 100 workers in 17 countries. 203 of these respondents were from India.   

In India, 77 per cent of the respondents were confident of achieving their goals, while only 66 per cent said they were confident globally.   

“This survey sheds light on the fact that with the right mindset and a culture that promotes employee wellbeing and technology, we can accelerate the journey toward a more diverse and inclusive workforce,” said Anjali Rao, Senior Director - HR, Intel India.   

71 per cent of Indian leaders whose companies offer hybrid work options said that their organisation was helped by the change to significantly adapt DE&I initiatives, as compared to only 60 per cent globally.   

However, 16 per cent cited a negative impact on DE&I progress owing to the pandemic, with the reason that remote work has made inclusivity a bigger challenge.   

94 per cent of those surveyed agreed that technology has made it easier to achieve their DE&I goals, with 51 per cent saying they are exploring how technology will help bolster DE&I commitments, which are among their top three priorities over the next 12 months.   

Remote working has also opened doors for companies to hire from under-represented groups, with 66 per cent saying that hybrid workforce has increased inclusivity, with 57 per cent saying they have adopted new tools to support inclusivity.  

However, the room for improvement is still visible with 36 per cent of business leaders admitting they can invest more in initiatives to promote DE&I, while 45 per cent said that a lack of investment in the tools was a major pain point.