Explore the CIPD's collected perspective on key diversity and inclusion issues, including recommendations, supporting evidence and links to resources for policymakers and employers.
Diversity and inclusion
Learn how to promote equal opportunities and manage diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Diversity recognises that, though people have things in common with each other, they are also different many ways. Inclusion is where those differences are seen as a benefit, and where perspectives and differences are shared, leading to better decisions. Everyone should have a right to equal access to employment and, when employed, should have equal pay and equal access to training and development. Here you’ll find information on equal opportunities, managing diversity and inclusion.
CIPD viewpoint
Latest resources
Inclusion at work: perspectives on LGBT+ working lives
CIPD research highlights the key barriers and enablers to help people professionals improve LGBT+ workplace inclusion
How to source diverse suppliers
Advice for organisations on how to source diverse suppliers for your business
How to have difficult conversations about race at work
Principles, steps and considerations for organisations on how to have conversations about race with their employees
How to set up an ERG for black and ethnic minority employees
Eight steps to help employers establish an employee resource group (ERG) for black and ethnic minority employees, including the business case for doing so
Developing an anti-racism strategy
Explore the six principles the CIPD recommends to help you create a racially inclusive workplace
COVID-19 and race: supporting employees
This guide offers advice on supporting ethnic minority employees who are one group that have faced a disproportionate impact of COVID-19
Diversity management that works: summary of recommendations
Develop an evidence-based view of D&I by exploring our research report and practitioner-focused recommendations
Five actions you can take to foster inclusion
We outline five areas in which people professionals can take action to build inclusion in the workplace
Understanding inclusion in your organisation
Use our inclusion health checker tool to help you build an inclusive workplace
Course: Working inclusively
This course explains the importance of working inclusively. It will help you to develop this key behaviour to achieve positive outcomes in your role
Reports
Diversity and inclusion at work: facing up to the business case
Our new report assesses the evidence on the outcomes of diversity at work and how organisations can tackle these to make work an equal business
Barriers to BAME employee career progression to the top
Offers insight, support and guidance for employers and examines barriers to access and progression within their business context
Creating longer, more fulfilling working lives
Discover the policy frameworks and initiatives on offer to support older workers in the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany and the UK
The impact of quotas and targets on diversity
A discussion of the pros and cons of quotas and other affirmative action policies, reviewing evidence from politics education and the workplace
Insights into managing an age-diverse workforce
Employee perspectives on age diversity at work, with recommendations for employers and summary interviews from case study organisations
Gender diversity in the boardroom
Explore HR practitioners’ perspectives on gender diversity in the boardroom
Age diversity in SMEs: reaping the benefits
Explore SME attitudes to mature employees and an age-diverse workforce, age diversity benefits and challenges, and support for the extension of working lives
Views on managing an age-diverse workforce
An examination of the issues relating to managing an age-diverse workforce, comparing employee and employer/HR perspectives
Podcasts
Neurodiversity: a vital aspect of workplace inclusion
Episode 152: What is neurodiversity, what are the benefits for your organisation, and how can you create a neurodiverse-friendly workplace where people can thrive?
Why is it so hard to talk about BAME?
Episode 137: We look at why organisations find it more difficult to talk about BAME diversity than gender diversity and HR’s role in supporting change.
LGBT+ at work
Episode 112: The episodes in this month’s mini-series focus on the experiences of professionals in the LGBT community, the challenges they’ve faced and the role they believe HR can play in developing inclusive workplaces.
Boardroom diversity
Episode 104: Should businesses have mandatory quotas for women in senior positions? HR and diversity experts give their views on gender diversity, how far businesses have come and how far they have still to go.
Thinking strategically about age diversity
Episode 88: Are different generations really that different in the workplace? This episode discusses how organisations can support different generations of workers and think strategically about age diversity.
Have employers got the skills to employ young people?
Episode 78: Does your organisation have the skills to support young workers? This episode looks at what businesses and HR could and should be doing to boost working opportunities for young people.
Factsheets
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Understand what diversity and inclusion mean in the workplace and how an effective D&I strategy can support business
Guides
Neurodiversity at work
Learn more about neurodiversity, the benefits for organisations, and how to support neurodivergent people to be comfortable and successful at work
Inclusion Calendar
Inclusion Calendar 2021
This online calendar, produced in partnership with Diversiton, is for individual CIPD members’ own personal use and highlights over 240 important dates including holy days, religious festivals, health and well-being awareness days, special events and bank holidays.

Disability Confident employer
The CIPD is a Disability Confident Leader. We work with the DWP and lead the way in changing attitudes towards disability, and to encourage all employers to provide opportunities to ensure that people with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions are able to fulfil their potential at work. We regularly review our own people practices and approaches to ensure that our workplace is as open, diverse, accessible and inclusive as possible.
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
The CIPD’s LGBT group
Building awareness and understanding about LGBT perspectives in the workplace and taking joint responsibility for championing a healthy and inclusive organisation