Thank you to CO–U.S. Chamber of Commerce for providing the content on Is Your Business’s Diversity Statement Falling Flat? Here’s How to Tell.
A recent study from the APA shows that internal diversity messaging doesn’t work when it’s focused on the benefit to the business.
Numerous articles and research reports have shown that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have a positive impact on a business’s overall success, including its profitability. However, a new study from the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that diversity messaging can backfire when it’s too focused on the “bottom line” benefit.
The APA ran an AI-based language analysis of companies’ public-facing diversity statements and conducted a series of interviews to see how job seekers from three underrepresented groups responded to different types of statements. When the job seekers read diversity statements that focus on the financial benefits of diversity, many of them said they would not feel a sense of belonging at the company that wrote it if they worked there.
The research revealed that 80% of Fortune 500 companies used a business case to justify valuing diversity, which means the majority of corporations are missing the mark in their DEI messaging. Here are a few key takeaways from the APA’s study and how your company can better approach its communication about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
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CO–by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
