Pathways to social justice: A revitalized vision for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce

Amid a global pandemic, racial and social unrest, and the rise of stakeholder capitalism, it is a business imperative for leaders to take action to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society.

A holistic diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy is central to these efforts — a strategy that covers all business processes and builds on the contributions of people from all backgrounds and experiences.

In collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), Mercer has issued a new paper, Pathways to Social Justice: A Revitalized Vision for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workforce, which examines:

Why the current climate demands a revitalized vision for DEI
What a holistic DEI approach means and how it benefits the entire organization
A detailed framework to develop an impactful and actionable workforce DEI strategy
How leading organizations are putting their DEI strategies into action

Applying a holistic approach to DEI

A robust concept of DEI comprises many different dynamics to meet the needs of a global workforce that’s ethnically, economically, generationally, educationally and cognitively diverse.

Organizations should embed a holistic DEI approach into all business processes. This approach should include not only internal strategies but also external ones — working with stakeholders such as consumers, suppliers, governments and communities — to encompass the business imperative of creating a more open, diverse and inclusive society.