A new path to inclusion in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is strengthening regulations to support fairness across the workforce.¹ As a result, organisations are not stepping back from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), yet many employees are not convinced they are moving forward either.

This report, based on a survey of 1,792 employees and leaders in the UK² finds that while most organisations continue to invest in DEI, those efforts are not always seen as genuine. Employees report stronger engagement, trust, and performance where DEI has increased, and these benefits are enhanced when efforts are experienced as genuine.

Mixed signals are a key challenge: many employees report that organisations signal a retreat from DEI even where activity is increasing. As a result, the impact of DEI depends not only on what organisations do, but on how transparently and consistently those actions are experienced.

The business implication is clear: DEI is most effective when it is experienced as consistent, authentic, and aligned with organisational actions, and is implemented in line with regulatory requirements.