Firms urged to capitalise on diversity

Businesses in the UK should make the most of diversity in order to boost their productivity levels and avoid difficult and expensive employment tribunals.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has produced new guidelines intended to help companies and managers promote diversity.

Recent Employment Tribunal Service figures show a sharp rise in the number of cases of sexual and racial discrimination between 2005 and 2006.

The number of cases relating to sexual discrimination last year rose from 2,524 to a startling 14,250, while the number of racial discrimination soared by 786 to 4,103.

A whopping 28,956 claims were left unresolved by the ETS at the end of 2006, with 86,083 of the 115,039 claims made dealt with.

Jo Causon, CMI director of marketing and corporate affairs, commented: "Organisations should ensure that diversity policies are clear and well communicated to their staff, or risk losing out on the performance gains it can generate."

According to the Enhancing Diversity guidelines from the Chartered Management Institute, organisations should establish current levels of diversity management, identify areas where change and support is needed and compile a diversity action plan.

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Date:26/07/2007 07:58:36