In recent years it’s been great to see Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives gaining momentum and increasingly being used as a way for companies to attract and retain top talent.
DE&I initiatives include policies addressing discrimination, parental leave, mental health awareness & support, micro-aggressions in the workplace, the representation of women & minorities in management, as well as the experience & representation of those with disabilities.
So, what are some of the benefits your company can experience from engaging a diverse workforce?
Though many large companies mention diversity as part of their business strategy, merely displaying a mix of faces in a team photo on their website's "About Us" page is not enough. In order to reap the full rewards of a diverse workforce, companies must fully embrace and prioritise diversity. 69% of respondents in our recent iknowho Annual Marketers Survey said they would turn down a job offer if the company did not support DE&I initiatives.
So, employers take note!
In 2021 the Ad Council of Australia (ACA) set up Create Space - a long term project to track & improve the diversity, equity, and inclusion of the advertising sector.
The 2021 Create space Census revealed some hard truths:
Since then the ACA have: Identified six action areas, created a resource hub empowering agencies to improve in these areas, plus introduced agency accreditation, professional standards and a code of conduct.
Create Space is back on November 1 to measure how it feels to work in and around Australian advertising in 2023.
Has it got better? Has it got worse? What do you think?
Inclusion at work affects everyone, and we see huge value in supporting the ACA who are working with the industry on taking action, sharing resources, as well as providing education and support.
We’ve blocked out 15 mins in our diaries to complete the census with our morning coffee on Wednesday & we urge you to do the same.
Click here to participate, and support this journey toward a more diverse & inclusive future for our industry.
#CreateSpaceAustralia #diversityandinclusion