What Your Workforce and Customers Want – But May Not Tell You

This is the first blog in a four-part series designed to help industry decision-makers consider diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues as they work to build a more diverse workforce and leadership team to accomplish critical business goals.

The rules of business have changed. It’s not enough to be competitive in the marketplace. You must also be a worthy employer that attracts, develops, and retains diverse talent.

Increasingly, employees want to work for a purpose-driven company that provides equal opportunity for all, has a socially good mission or focus, and is willing to stand up and be counted on critical political and social issues. Being purpose-driven is so important that 76% of Millennials interviewed for a survey said they would take a pay cut to work for a socially responsible company. They’re also not afraid to push back against companies that don’t live their values. Employees are using internal message boards, calculated PR leaks, public letters, and even public exoduses to make a statement for what they believe. Social media has democratized advocacy, helping formerly anonymous staff gain a pulpit to speak out on the issues they support.