Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace

What does EDI mean in the workplace and why is an effective EDI strategy vital to business?

Promoting and delivering EDI in the workplace is an essential aspect of good people management. It’s about creating working environments and cultures where every individual can feel safe, experience a sense of belonging, and is empowered to achieve their full potential.

Whilst legal frameworks vary across different countries, in the UK the Equality Act 2010 provides legal protection for nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

However, an effective EDI strategy should go beyond legal compliance and take an intersectional (that a person's different intersecting identities can advantage or disadvantage them) approach to EDI, which will add value to an organisation, contribute to the wellbeing and equality of outcomes and impact on all employees. Things to consider include: accent, age, caring responsibilities, colour, culture, visible and invisible disability, gender identity and expression, mental health, neurodiversity, physical appearance, political opinion, pregnancy and maternity/paternity and family status and socio-economic circumstances, amongst other personal characteristics and experiences.

This factsheet explores what workplace equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) means, and how an effective strategy is essential to an organisation’s business objectives. It looks at the rationale for action and outlines steps organisations can take to implement and manage a successful EDI strategy, from recruitment, selection, retention, communication, performance management and training, to addressing workplace behaviour and evaluating progress.

On this page

• What is equality, diversity, and inclusion
• The social justice case for EDI
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion are good for people and for business
• Managing equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Useful contacts and further reading

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CIPD EDI Essential

Bite-sized training to introduce fundamental concepts of EDI and its relevance to working lives through written, video, and interactive content at your own pace, just £49.50 or free for members.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

New learning programme, that brings bright ideas with greater impact for a thriving workplace.