Despite the growing recognition of diversity and inclusion, organizations in the Philippines still face difficulties in establishing and implementing effective diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace.
This was among the most salient findings of Sprout Solution’s State of HR Report 2023, a study on HR trends and insights in Philippine organizations. As the largest end-to-end HR tech provider in the Philippines and a thought leader in the HR industry, Sprout Solutions released the study to help foster a positive work environment and culture, with a focus on promoting diversity and inclusion practices in the workplace.
Over the years, companies that embrace diversity and inclusion have been better able to tap into a wider talent pool and benefit from diverse perspectives, which leads to better employee engagement and retention.
Perception gap
The report, which covered over 400 HR professionals and over 2,200 employees in various industries and companies in the Philippines, pointed to a perception gap between employees feeling included and leaders believing so, with 44% of respondents identifying this gap as a barrier to greater diversity and inclusion efforts by their supervisors.
Unfortunately, Philippine organizations do not put enough attention to practices that would diversify the workplace. In fact, the survey showed that among HR specialists, 36.2% felt neutral about workplace diversity and inclusion, with just 23.2% feeling somewhat strongly, and 17.6% feeling very strongly about diversity and inclusion.
Moreover, results revealed that companies primarily direct their diversity and inclusion efforts toward women, with 26.8% reporting this focus. However, other underrepresented groups, such as gender minorities (16.8%), ethnic minorities (9.4%), individuals over 50 years old (9.2%), religious minorities (8.9%), and people with disabilities (5.6%), still require attention to ensure comprehensive and inclusive practices.
Retaining talent: equitable compensation matters
To address this, the study underscored the importance of equitable compensation packages in creating an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel valued and empowered. It also noted the urgent need for organizations to address diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace for talents to stay – an important consideration with retention being the biggest pain point for HR teams in 2023.
“Diversity and inclusion are critical issues that every organization should address. Filipinos need to feel safe in their workplaces and no one should ever be cut off from opportunities because of his or her background,” said Atty. Arlene De Castro, the Chief People & Customer Officer of Sprout Solutions. “It is imperative for organizations to embrace diversity and inclusion practices and behaviors that will allow people to thrive and grow. Not only will this mean a more engaged workforce, but it also means a more positive environment for everyone. investing in the employee experience helps everyone feel valued, supported, and empowered — in turn, encouraging them to do their best work,” she concluded.
For more information on the latest HR trends and insights from the State of HR 2023 report, visit www.sprout.ph.
