The business case for diversity: don’t drain the talent pool.

Discrimination limits what societies can achieve. At a time when global challenges like climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss and inequality must be confronted, we need to draw on all the human capital available. 

For managers and businesses, discrimination limits the talent pool available to support achievement. A growing body of research shows how bolstering diversity can enhance performance.

Labor shortages in many markets, exacerbated by the ‘Great Resignation’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, make staff retention and recruitment more critical than ever. The recent state laws limiting reproductive health access in the US have had financial impact, even before the recent Supreme Court decision.

In this update, we review the latest academic research into diversity and its impacts on financial performance through innovation, HR management, governance and resilience. We focus on how:

• Restricted access to reproductive health care could impact businesses following the US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade
• Diversity on boards and in the ‘C Suite’ boosts resilience and financial performance
• Government-imposed board gender quotas affect corporate HR policies
• Innovation correlates with diversity (of both gender and knowledge) on boards  
• Companies with higher percentages of women on their boards tend to have lower carbon emissions

Diversity has value not just in society but in business, where competitiveness depends on productive and fair use of all available talent. A compelling and growing arsenal of research shows that different experiences and perspectives provide for more robust oversight, discussions, and decision-making.

¹ Institute for Women’s Policy Research, 20 July 2022: New Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) Report Shows Economic Benefit to Women of Protecting Reproductive Rights