Briefing Pack for Managers The Importance of Diversity In the Workplace Engendering a Culture of...

Briefing Pack for Managers

The Importance of Diversity In the WorkplaceEngendering a Culture of Respect

© British Telecommunications plc

What is the difference between Equality and Diversity?

Equal Opportunities • Reactive: Driven by legislation • Removing barriers • Improving numbers • Focus on under-represented group

Diversity• Pro-active: Driven by organisational need • Nurturing potential • Improving the learning and working environment • Focus on the individual


Equality is….?Equality is….?

Equality is about making sure people are treated fairly and given fair chances. Equality is not about

treating everyone in the same way, but it recognises that their needs

are met in different ways.


Diversity is…..?Diversity is…..?

Diversity is based on the concept of recognition of differences:

recognising that everyone is different, and respecting and

encouraging those differences for business benefit


The diversity mosaic includes all the unique differences that make each of us who we are

What is Diversity?


• Working arrangements: full/part-time; office-based/remote

• Job role: manager; professional; team member; length of service; experience; skills

• Personality: reserved/gregarious; adventurous/careful; logical/creative

• Personal circumstances: parental or caring responsibilities; family status; life-cycle events

• Background: socio-economic; education; qualifications

• Choices/preferences: home location; hobbies; lifestyle; dress; tastes

We are all diverse!

Diversity – what makes us the same or different?


• A diverse workforce reflects the marketplace in which we operate

• Individuals from diverse communities can relate to our customers. This gives an improved customer experience and a higher level of customer service

• Customers make choices based on how well companies relate to them and understand their needs.

• Diversity means that BT creates better products and services for its customers and therefore has a better market share

• Good E&D/CSR credentials help us attract and retain talent and make us an employer of choice

• Diversity helps BT be First Choice

• BT’s people networks provide insight into diverse markets and help us develop competitive products and services

So What?


Facts and Figures – Did You Know?

• 99% of women in BT return to work after maternity leave compared to an industry average of 40%

• 75% of people return to work after extended sick leave compared to industry average of 25%

• 9.8% of the BT workforce is from an ethnic minority background compared to 7.9% in the UK

• 3% of workforce have declared a disability

• 22% of the BT workforce is female which compares well with other telecoms sector businesses

• 85% of part timers are female

• There are 13,750 homeworkers in BT

• 5,000 people in BT work part time

• Since BT removed the normal retirement age there are now 1,244 people over 60 working for BT

• 1/3rd of the UK workforce is aged over 50

• Only 4.4% of our recruits are aged over 50

• 15% of recruits in 06/07 were from ethnic minority background


Facts & Figures - Benchmarking

• Latest Benchmarking Results show how BT compares to other organisations

Position % Standard (if known)

Race 3rd Gold

Sexual Orientation

13th 87% N/A

Gender 94% Gold

Dow Jones 1st - -

Disability 3rd 89% Gold


Diversity Facts and Figures - General• In the UK the estimated annual disposable spend of the

following groups is:

– Disabled people and their carers = £80 billion

– Over 50s = £55 billion

– Ethnic minority population = £45 billion

– LGBT community = £40 billion

• Purchasing power of the Black and minority ethnic community increased by 64.7 % between 1998 and 2004

• Over 80% of family purchasing decisions are made by women

• 51% of independent retail outlets in the UK are owned by black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs

• 25% of all SMEs are owned by women

• 10% of business start ups in the UK are from ethnic minority groups


Diversity – Demographic Data

• By 2008 68% of the workforce will be female

• 1 in 4 of the European population either has a disability or knows someone who does

• 27% of the European workforce now works flexibly (35% UK). This is expected to grow by 10% year on year

• The 18-24 age group is decreasing by approximately 10.5% a year due to birth patterns in the mid-1980s relating to changes in lifestyles and women becoming primary earners

• The fastest growing population in the UK is the 16-24 ethnic minority group

• In 2007 1 in 4 of the population is over the age of 45

• 1 in 14 of the UK population is Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender

• Graduates are seeking a stronger focus on Work/Life Balance and CSR issues when selecting future employers


Every colleague or customer interaction could provide you with……

• An opportunity to learn about others

• An opportunity to understand how to use diversity to provide a better level of customer service

• An opportunity to understand how diversity adds commercial financial benefit to BT


Further Information

BT Retail Equality and Diversity Homepage

http://retail.intra.bt.com/ret-equality

Customer Service Equality and Diversity Homepage

http://btretail.intra.bt.com/customer-contact-centre/equalityanddiversity/

Your Line of Business E & D representative

Briefing Pack for Managers The Importance of Diversity In the Workplace Engendering a Culture of...

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