Diversity and inclusion now a “business necessity” in the modern workplace, according to HR experts

The world of work is changing.

Changes in general society find their way into our work environments, whether it’s cutting-edge technology becoming a mainstay of most offices or changing work dynamics thanks to the popularity of remote working.

More and more, companies are looking at how they can best serve their employees, facilitating everything from four-day work weeks for a better work-life balance, to allowing pets into the office.

One area of particular focus for all businesses is diversity and inclusion. An increasingly diverse world needs to be reflected in the workplace and as companies look to keep up with the times, diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of their minds.

We spoke to two specialists in diversity and inclusion, who both earned postgraduate degrees from DCU Business School in courses related to HR practices, to see what insights they have gleaned about the area.

Diversity and inclusion

Having launched successful careers in the world of HR, Siobhan Sweeney and Andrea O’Reilly decided that a postgraduate degree would be extremely beneficial to advancing their career and developing their expertise.

Both attended DCU Business School, where Siobhan received an MSc in Work & Organisational Psychology / Behaviour, and Andrea received an MSc in Talent, Leadership and HR Strategy. Both of these courses place a huge focus on the importance of diversity and inclusion in a modern workplace.

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is no longer ‘nice to have’, it’s a business necessity which adds a serious competitive advantage,” says Siobhan.

“The world and society are changing rapidly, our customers expect us to adapt to the world around us which includes the workforce. By 2025, estimates predict the workforce will be 75% millennials, which will continue to be another driving force for D&I. This segment of the workforce highly values diversity, with a 2016 survey reporting that 47% of millennials actively look for diversity in the workplace, meaning that diversity should also be a primary concern for organisations looking to attract the best and brightest employees,” she added.

Siobhan Sweeney, Senior Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Element Materials Technology

As HR professionals, a key part of Andrea and Siobhan’s role is to choose the makeup of their companies. “In my role, I need to identify and implement the organisation and people changes needed to deliver on company strategy to achieve high growth,” said Andrea.

Siobhan and Andrea both stressed the benefits of ensuring the workplace is diverse and inclusive – which include a wider range of ideas, environments and lifestyles – that can all contribute to greater success within a business.

“The research has shown that with diverse and inclusive cultures several benefits can be received,” Siobhan said.

These include:

#1: Variety of different perspectives.

#2: Increased creativity.

#3: Higher innovation.

#4: Faster problem-solving.

#5: Better decision making.

#6: Increased profits.

#7: Higher employee engagement.

#8: Reduced employee turnover.

#9: Better company reputation.

#10: Improved hiring results.

Diversity and inclusion is an area that any company looking to improve its model and ensure greater customer satisfaction should be looking at to see what advancements it can make for the benefit of its business.

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“DCU facilitated me by highlighting tools that would help fulfil me along my academic journey. These tools have helped me in my working life also,” said Andrea.

I achieved an excellent mark. I hope I can inspire others to realise that you can do anything you put your mind to. The world is my oyster as it is for others; make the most of your life; perceived barriers and obstacles are only challenges to overcome and will make you the best you can be,” she added.

The faculty themselves are also appreciated by students, with Siobhan Sweeney saying she “couldn’t have asked for more from the DCU faculty.”

“I knew from day one that the faculty wanted its students to succeed and because of that mission they constantly went over and beyond to support the student population.”

DCU Business School is the obvious choice for those looking to further their career in the world of HR, people management, and leadership, who are already educated to degree level. With top-class teaching within the heavily accredited School on top of an extremely high employment rate of graduates (DCU is ranked first in Ireland amongst universities) as well as a modern campus, the MScs in Leadership and People Strategies and in Work & Organisational Psychology / Behaviour are designed to create the driving forces of change in the workplace.

For more information about the part-time postgraduate courses offered by DCU Business School, visit here.

This article first appeared in thejournal.ie in June 2023