Diversity

This page describes our research activities on general diversity issues. 

See separate pages for information on particular diversity issues:

• Age
  
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Disabilities
• Religion
• Race
  
• Ex-offenders
• Bullying and harrassment

General diversity issues

Ongoing research

• Following an extended programme of research on managing diversity and the business case which has informed a number of CIPD publications, a new report will be published in 2008 reflecting on the overall findings and spotlighting issues to help support future progress.
  
  

Published research

• Our report Managing Diversity in Practice: supporting business goals was published in April 2007. This showcases five employers, in the public and private sector, who share their experiences of how they have successfully progressed diversity within their organisations, integrating initiatives into operational activities which have added value to business performance.
  • Buy the report
    
    
• In 2006 we carried out a national level survey to produce benchmarking information on employers’ diversity policies and practices. We reported on this work in two stages:
  
  1. an early report  Managing diversity. How much progress have employers made. First findings,
  2. and following more detailed analysis, a final report Diversity in Business: A focus for progress, published in March 2007.
     
  • View the first findings
  • View the final report
    
    
• In 2006 we organised an action research programme on managing diversity in which representatives from nine organisations shared their insights and experience. Our research report Managing diversity: words into action is based on that programme.
• • Buy the report
  • View a summary
    
    
• We have a factsheet giving an overview of diversity issues, including: the context, the business case, practical guidance, and the CIPD viewpoint.
• View the factsheet
  
  
• We commissioned Incomes Data Service to produce an executive briefing on Reward and Diversity: Making fair pay add up to business advantage, published in February 2006. This will be useful to all practitioners who want to ensure that their pay sytems reward employee contribution rather than individual bias.
  
• View the report in CIPD Bookstore
  
• View a summary of the report
  
  
• Managing diversity: measuring success was published in February 2006.  It spotlights where diversity can make a difference and in what ways there can be both positive and negative outcomes unless diversity is managed successfully.
• View the Change Agenda
  
  
• Managing diversity: learning by doing was published in June 2005. This reports on the experiences and observations of people taking part in an 18-month action research programme and will inform the development of good practice in making diversity happen.
• View the paper
  
  
• Our report Managing Diversity: Linking theory and practice to business performance examined the relationship between changes in the business world and managing diversity. It suggests the adoption of a balanced scorecard approach to integrate diversity into business strategy and operational activities.
  
• View the report
  
  
• Our new guide Managing diversity: people make the difference at work – but everyone is different looks at changes in the social, legal and economic landscape, what managing diversity is it all about, the CIPD vision for the development of equal opportunities, tips for action and facts and figures.
• View the guide
  
  
• We hosted a Diversity Showcase in 2004 and produced a paper based on the event which shares our research findings and distills some of the discussions.
• View the paper
  
  
• Discrimination and the Law: Does the system suit the purpose? was published in August 2004. It assess whether the legislation introduced to support diversity standards in organisations has actually had an impact. This is available to purchase online in our bookstore.
  
• Go to the CIPD Bookstore
• View the summary
  
  
• Our 2003 report Diversity: Stacking up the evidence examined the challenges facing organisations when determining diversity strategies. This is now out of print, but a summary is available to view. CIPD members can also borrow the report from our Library.
  
• View the summary
• Visit the CIPD Library