"A new report from HR consulting company Buck revealed that 32% of employees believe their companies lack diverse benefits, a figure that was higher for Black (35%) and female employees (35%)," says Dexter Tilo.

This only shows that having a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy should be on all companies' agendas for 2023. Employee engagement and retention will be correlated with these guidelines. "Younger employees are more likely to be interested in DE&I efforts compared to older staff. In fact, 60% of millennials expect their employers to demonstrate commitment to DE&I," continues Dexter Tilo.

So what precisely does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mean, and how can managers adopt new policies to ensure a diverse workforce? According to Robert Half, these are their definitions, and ways managers are addressing DEI in 2022.

Diversity
The presence of people with varying backgrounds and life experiences.

Equity
Ensuring that processes and programs are impartial and fair and provide equal possible outcomes for every individual.

Inclusion
The practice of ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging in the workplace.

"In terms of comprehensive benefits, it is also critical for employers to understand the needs of their staff to retain them. The report revealed that 72% of employees want more work-life balance resources. But by ethnicity, Black (76%), Asian (78%), and Hispanic or Latino employees (78%) said they want more support,” remarks Dexter Tilo.

"With 54% of employees living paycheck-to-paycheck, financial well-being is also a top priority for employees. This is much higher for Black employees (66%), followed by Hispanic or Latino staff (56%), and other or native American workers (60%)," he concludes.