Everyone benefits from diversity

Firms that take steps to improve diversity in the workplace earn real business benefits, according to a joint report from the Confederation of British Industry and Trades Union Congress. Higher morale and greater productivity, improved retention rates, lower recruitment costs and a better understanding of the customer's needs are all mentioned in the report, which also stresses the potential for addressing skills shortages. The 'Talent not Tokenism' report shows that promoting diversity need not be expensive, complex or a legal bind and suggests that the message applies to firms of all sizes. The report (at www.cbi.org.uk) contains 12 case studies into how companies have developed workplace diversity and highlights the advantages of doing so.