The key factors linked to creating an inclusive workplace primarily involve the identity and actions of an organizations’ leaders, according to research from McKinsey & Company.

The report was based on data from a survey conducted in 2019 among 2,030 respondents who work for firms across a wide range of industries. The researchers also tested 26 organizational practices and employee experiences to see which factors are strongly linked with an individual’s sense of inclusion.

Women are less likely than men to say they feel very included; entry-level employees through vice-presidents are less likely than senior leaders to say they feel very included in their workplace; and ethnic and racial minorities are less likely to say they feel very included than non-minorities.

Though LGBTQ+ respondents are more likely to say they feel included, that may be because the survey sample for that group skewed toward more senior employees.

inclusive workplace 2019 survey, respondent percentage who feel very included

Some 44% of female respondents, 45% of ethnic or racial-minority respondents, and 50% of LGBTQ+ respondents say they have decided against pursuing or accepting a position because they believed the organization would not be an inclusive place to work.

inclusive workplace 2019 survey, percentage of respondents who have not pursued a job because of lack of inclusion

The researchers identified four key factors associated with employees reporting a strong sense of inclusion at their workplace:

  1. Diverse, inclusive leadership (an organizational focus on inclusive leadership and diverse leaders in the organization)
  2. Meritocracy and initiatives to increase fairness (a meritocratic organizational culture and initiatives to increase fairness in performance evaluations)
  3. Sponsorship (respondents are given at least one sponsor)
  4. Access to senior leaders (substantive interactions between employees and senior leaders that contribute to career advancement)
workplace inclusion 2019 survey, factors linked to a sense of inclusion

About the research: The report was based on data from a survey conducted in 2019 among 2,030 respondents who work for firms across a wide range of industries. The researchers also tested 26 organizational practices and employee experiences to see which factors are strongly linked with an individual’s sense of inclusion.


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Creating More-Inclusive Workplaces: Four Key Factors

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

image of Ayaz Nanji

Ayaz Nanji is a writer, editor, and a content strategist. He is a co-founder of ICW Media and a research writer for MarketingProfs. He has worked for Google/YouTube, the Travel Channel, and the New York Times.

LinkedIn: Ayaz Nanji

Twitter: @ayaznanji