The workforce is rapidly becoming more diverse, and it is critical for companies to develop new strategies and solutions to attract and retain a diverse workforce to increase their bottom lines. Our clients tell us that they promote diversity but fall short in strategically aligning diversity with business objectives. They seem to all draw the same conclusion: "We are stuck on moving diversity forward."

Our Solution

Diversity cannot be advanced without inclusion. Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work.™ Hewitt has a proven track record in helping organizations achieve breakthroughs in both diversity and inclusion by:

• Hardwiring the diversity and inclusion enterprise-wide strategy to talent, business, HR, marketing, and operational objectives.
• Offering organization-wide cross-cultural competency development on which we believe is the foundation on which sustainable diversity and inclusion work can be built.
• Designing, implementing, and communicating benefits in ways that meet the needs, beliefs, and desires of the various demographic groups in your company.
• Enabling greater work-life flexibility by designing and implementing flexible policies, programs, and guidelines for that are win-win for the employee and employer as they lead to both greater productivity and engagement.
• Providing high-impact speaking engagements and publications geared to a range of audiences including C-suite executives, senior management, managers, employees, and affinity group leaders and members.

Read more: A Breakthrough Approach to Diversity and Inclusion (PDF format)

Sustainable Diversity Strategy

The Diversity Strategy needs to be omnipresent to have a lasting impact. This requires buy-in and promotion at the top. We work with leadership to ensure the following results:

• Diversity and inclusion embedded into your business strategy.
• Inclusion embedded into the business brand.
• Diversity and inclusion goals that are relevant across all global operations.
• Diversity and inclusion that leads to the attraction, engagement, retention, and advancement of your emerging workforce.
• Diversity and inclusion embedded into talent acquisition, benefits, communications, leadership, performance management, workforce planning, and other ongoing HR processes.

Read more: Sustainable Diversity Strategy (PDF format)

Cross-cultural Competency Development

Organizations have diverse workforces but are failing to embrace inclusion. The mix may be there, but it's not working well. In embracing the business case for diversity, companies prepared for talent that looked different; yet they were not necessarily ready for talent that behaved differently. We define cross-cultural competence as: the ability to discern and consider one's own worldview and those of others for the purpose of solving problems, making decisions, and resolving conflicts in ways that optimize cultural differences for better, longer lasting, and more creative solutions.

We have developed a comprehensive cross-cultural competency curriculum that has yielded the following results:

• Individuals being able to skillfully support diversity by being able to navigate working relationships with those who are different.
• Managers better able to manage cross-cultural national and global teams.
• Increase in productivity due to team members better able to address team issues created by clashing worldviews.
• Functional professionals better able to embed the implications of diversity into the products and processes they design, market, and sell.

Read more: Cross-cultural Competency Development (PDF format)

Benefits that Attract, Engage, and Retain a Diverse Workforce

Today, more than ever, companies need to provide attractive benefits for their diverse workforces. Hewitt helps by designing total benefits strategies addressing the diverse needs of employees. Our benefits plan will work better for your employees and cost you less money — in reduced medical claims and a more productive, engaged workforce.

Read more: Benefits that Attract, Engage, and Retain a Diverse Workforce (PDF format)

Work-Life Flexibility for an Emerging Workforce

The demand for work quality and quantity has never been higher. Companies are asking to do more with less putting an incredible strain on work-life flexibility. We work with clients to align work-life offerings with their Human Resources strategy and ensure that solutions balance the needs of both employees and the business.

Read more: Work-Life Flexibility for an Emerging Workforce

High Impact Speaking Engagements and Publications

Our Corporate Diversity experts address organizations to share our view of the Emerging Workforce and to discuss our proprietary literature, including the book The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity, as well as industry-leading whitepapers and brochures.

Read more: High Impact Speaking Engagements and Publications