Employers are taking a broader view of inclusion and diversity, and a growing number are now embedding their inclusion and diversity objectives into workplace culture and benefit programs, (e.g., healthcare, retirement, voluntary benefits, and perks), as well as employee pay and wellbeing initiatives. This, according to research from leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company Willis Towers Watson’s  2019 Emerging Trends in Health Care Survey.

“Employers today understand the importance of inclusion and diversity for their talent and business performance more than any previous point in history,” said Rachael McCann, senior director, Health and Benefits, Willis Towers Watson. “They also recognize that inclusion and diversity cannot exist in a vacuum. It needs to be built for each organization’s unique and diverse workforce and woven into the fabric of their culture, benefits, pay and workplace policies.”

Over the last three years, a majority of employers (55%) have taken steps to communicate their inclusion and diversity initiatives as they pertain to workplace culture and policies, while nearly three-quarters (73%) indicate they intend to do so over the next three years. Similarly, just over half (51%) have promoted inclusion and diversity endeavors aligned with their benefit programs over the past three years, with more than two-thirds (68%) aiming to do so in the next three years.

Attracting and retaining talent (82%) and driving employee engagement (62%) are overwhelmingly the most important factors behind employers taking action to promote inclusion and diversity within their workforce.

“The need to recruit, retain and engage diverse talent in a highly competitive labor market will only accelerate activity over the coming years,” continued McCann. “Yet, it isn’t the only reason. We also expect other advantages, such as broader perspectives, better environmental, social and governance metrics, stronger brand recognition and improved corporate sustainability to deepen organizations’ commitment to inclusion and diversity. Simply put, inclusion and diversity has become a top focus of the C-suite, given the clear link between diverse talent and improved business results.”

Leave of absence programs will continue to be a starting point to reinforce inclusion and diversity through benefits. In fact, three-quarters (75%) of respondents have either taken actions on their leave of absence programs or plan to this year or next, giving more employees opportunity to balance their unique work/life situation. “To have real impact, these enhanced policies should live in an inclusive culture that permits employees of all types to access the benefits,” said McCann.

Employers ranked their top inclusion and diversity priorities over the next three years as financial planning, e.g., health, emergency savings, retirement (37%); core medical and/or pharmacy benefits (30%); maternity & family planning/infertility benefits (27%); and mental health and substance abuse treatment (27%).