A newly released global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) report by CultureMonkey, an employee engagement and feedback platform, has spotlighted stark disparities between intent and execution in workplace inclusion efforts. Based on feedback from over 10,000 employees across the US, Europe, India, and the broader APAC region, the report reveals that only 28.6% of employees feel truly included at work, even as 61.2% acknowledge that their company’s DEI focus positively influences their work experience.
The survey uncovered a troubling gap between DEI narratives and lived employee experiences. While companies are investing in diversity training and inclusive policies, employees continue to report issues such as unequal shift distributions, favouritism, inaccessible workplace facilities, and biased recognition and promotion systems. These findings underscore that while the strategic intent exists, DEI practices often fail to reach the operational core of many organisations.
Senthil Kumar Muthamizhan, Founder and CEO of CultureMonkey, remarked, “The intent to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces is clearly there, and that’s encouraging. The real opportunity now is turning that intent into everyday impact—and that starts with consistent follow-through from leadership.”
The report notes that only 16.3% of employees found diversity training accessible and effective, signalling uneven exposure to developmental resources. Furthermore, 10.2% of respondents appreciated inclusive recognition systems but flagged unequal pay, opaque advancement criteria, and erratic feedback mechanisms as key concerns.
CultureMonkey emphasised the importance of institutionalising DEI by embedding equitable systems into performance reviews, leadership pipelines, and learning opportunities. The report urges leaders to go beyond symbolic gestures and prioritise building systems that allow employees—irrespective of geography, background, or function—to feel genuinely valued, heard, and empowered.
Source – https://www.bwpeople.in/article/only-286-employees-feel-included-dei-report-556164