The CIPD's EmbRACE group

Encouraging conversations about race, to promote understanding and to collaborate with the wider organisation to create a healthy and inclusive working environment

'Race may be an issue ignored in the workplace in an effort to avoid conflict or fear of saying the wrong thing. It is a real factor for many people and does not disappear when we walk into work.'

Championing racial diversity and inclusion

The EmbRACE group was launched in June 2018 to encourage conversations about race among our people and to promote understanding, so we can all take joint responsibility for creating a healthy working environment.

People have joined the group for many different reasons and we welcome people from all ethnicities and backgrounds who are inspired to create a more inclusive workplace.

Peter Cheese
'Our aim is to have a truly inclusive culture that allows all our employees to be valued and to succeed in their career, irrespective of their background, and also to ensure that they are able to bring their authentic self to work. We know from many surveys and our own research that people from ethnic minorities face a number of barriers in levels of employment, pay and progression. One way we are wanting to overcome these obstacles at the CIPD, and encouraging businesses in the UK through our membership, is by having open and honest conversations about race in the workplace. This is one of the purposes of having the EmbRACE group – to have an inclusive forum open to everyone, not just those from ethnic minorities, where these conversations can be had in an open, challenging yet constructive way.'

'Over time we want to see that the issue of race is moved out of the 'too difficult' pile and into the open, so that we can work together to break down those barriers facing those from different ethnic backgrounds. For this to succeed it is vital that the senior leaders of an organisation are committed to improving diversity, and this is very much the case at the CIPD.'

Peter Cheese, Chief Executive, the CIPD

Our aims are to:

  • champion black, Asian and ethnic minority representation and progression within the CIPD
  • raise awareness of and celebrate different cultures, backgrounds and heritages
  • be an informed and knowledgeable voice on black, Asian and minority ethnic minority issues
  • ensure CIPD policies, practices and culture are inclusive towards black, Asian and minority ethnic minority people.

Tony Osude - Commercial and Marketing Director, the CIPD, and Executive Sponsor, EmbRACE
Derek Tong - Co-Chair for EmbRACE, and Editorial Manager, Brand and Communications, and
Donna Akodu - Co-Chair for EmbRACE, Marketing Planning Executive, Commercial and Marketing

Signing up to the Charter - Five calls to action

The CIPD has signed up to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter - which is composed of five principal calls to action for leaders and organisations across all sectors.

  • Appoint an Executive Sponsor for race
  • Capture ethnicity data and publicise progress
  • Commit at Board level to zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
  • Make clear that supporting equality in the workplace is the responsibility of all leaders and managers
  • Take action that supports ethnic minority career progression

Signing up means we are taking practical steps to ensure our workplace is tackling barriers that ethnic minority people face in recruitment and progression and that our organisation is representative of British society today.

Download the Charter

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