Inclusion is a fundamental necessity for organisational success’: IWFM CEO responds to EDI research

News

IWFM has collaborated with 11 professional membership and regulatory bodies from a range of sectors to investigate the state of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives today.  

The research, released today by the Young Foundation as the report Beyond Buzzwords, acknowledges EDI’s importance as a professional, organisational and societal imperative.

It also shows substantial barriers to progress on this agenda and scepticism about EDI ‘box ticking’ initiatives from among the 7,000 professionals surveyed - including IWFM members - who provided insight. 

The report found that nearly three-quarters of respondents had experienced barriers to career progression (73%) or some form of 'discriminatory or exclusionary’ behaviour in their workplace since the start of 2019 (72%). More than half (53%) have considered leaving their employer or profession due to EDI concerns, related to feeling undervalued or having limited scope to progress. 

Beyond Buzzwords highlighted the key role of professional bodies, alongside individuals, employers and policy makers, in helping to bring about the ‘systematic’ change needed to tackle these issues.

Commenting on Beyond Buzzwords, IWFM CEO Linda Hausmanis said:

“Inclusion in the workplace is a fundamental necessity for the growth, progress and success of organisations and Beyond Buzzwords is a crucial piece of work affecting a critical sector at a pivotal time.

“After beginning our EDI journey in 2021, three reasons underpinned IWFM’s involvement with this project; first WFM has both a diversity challenge and a talent gap and tackling one will help the other; second as standard setter for the profession to understand how we can make the biggest impact; and third, like the lynchpin profession we support, to help address a wider challenge that we cannot do alone.

“We accept its recommendations in full and will shortly publish an updated EDI statement underpinned by an action plan to implement them.”

Read the full report here.