Diversity, inclusion and the workplace-equality index: the ingredients for organizational success

Purpose – Presents organizations with issues to consider regarding inclusion and its importance as well as a well-established index that companies can join in order to make sure that equality is not a mere policy but that it counts in reality in every organization. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the power that an organization can derive from deliberately nurturing and integrating heterogeneous groups of people so that they fit together. Findings – Explains that the best way for an organization to succeed is to combine employee knowledge, skills, judgment and attitudes, alongside fair treatment. Practical implications – Provides details of an index that aims to measure the efforts of organizations to tackle discrimination and create an inclusive workplace for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees. Social implications – Reveals that the method of the index should allow organizations already successfully implementing diversity strategies acknowledgement while, at the same time, providing inspiration to those beginning to tackle diversity. Originality/value – Demonstrates that diversifying the workforce must be accompanied by inclusivity and equality in order to triumph.