SHIFT HR Compliance Training recently commissioned a research report with HR.com called “HR.com’s Future of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging 2023 Research Report.” (“HR.com Report”). Considering the recent attention in the media and online activity around HR, the workplace, and diversity in general, we want to offer our perspective on some of the findings and supporting data.

The survey asked HR professionals to rate their organizations on DEI performance including representation, pay equity, training, and challenges.
The results revealed that while DEI training initiatives are on the rise, there is more progress to be done. Here are a few highlights:

• Representation: Less than 41% of top leaders in most organizations are women, and racial/ethnic minorities make up less than 20% of top leadership positions, despite being 40% of the U.S. workforce.
• Growth: Only 14% of the survey participants rated their organizations as advanced in DEI practices.
• Barriers: When asked about DEI challenges, 44% of the participants cited a lack of prioritization at leadership levels followed by the lack of metrics and time.
• Equity: Only 8% of organizations are actively invested in understanding the pay equity gap.
• Training: While 74% of the firms have DEI-related Learning and Development, only 53% of them include the entire team in the initiatives.