Today, many organisations are recognising the importance of building diverse workforces. Companies that embrace and celebrate diversity not only see business benefits, but also challenge inequality, discrimination, and exclusivity in the workplace and beyond.

While it’s great to see so many organisations taking steps to diversify their workforce, we know it’s not always easy to do, particularly in industries with a disproportionately high number of people from certain demographics. One of the best ways to attract a more diverse pool of applicants is by building a benefits package that addresses the range of needs people can have.

In this article, we’ll outline the importance of promoting diversity in the workplace, before exploring some of the employee benefits that have shown to attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. We hope you find it helpful!

Why diversity in the workplace Is crucial to a happy, successful and inclusive organisation

It’s no secret that diversity in the workplace is closely linked to successful, high-performing workforces. Studies consistently show that diverse workforces are more innovative, benefiting from a wider range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to come up with more creative solutions. You just have to look at the numbers:

• Higher financial performance: Companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 36% more likely to outperform their competitors in
• Increased innovation: Diverse teams are 87% more likely to make better decisions and drive innovation than non-diverse teams.
• Improved employee retention: 57% of employees believe that their company should be doing more to increase diversity, and organisations with diverse leadership are better able to retain top talent.
• Employee wellbeing: Inclusive workplaces see a 56% increase in employee well-being and engagement.

Aside from being good for business, diversity is essential for creating fair and equitable workplaces where all employees have equal opportunity to thrive.

6 employee benefits you need to promote diversity

The purpose of employee benefits are to support and accommodate people's needs, equipping them with whatever they need to thrive in their roles. As a result, organisations that build comprehensive benefits packages are more attractive places for people to join and remain.

Some employee benefits in particular can positively impact a company's ability to attract and retain a diverse pool of applicants. We've put together a list of 6 employee benefits that have shown to promote diversity in workplaces - we hope you'll find it helpful!

1. Reproductive Healthcare Benefits

For too long, the reproductive health of employees has been an underserved area of healthcare suffering from a lack of employer-led support. Implementing a benefit that supports employees with their reproductive health helps plug gaps commonly found in Private Medical Insurance (PMI) plans, enhances attraction & retention and boosts employee engagement.

Additionally, reproductive healthcare benefits also help organisations build diverse and inclusive workpalce – here’s how!

Fertility & family-forming support support‍

By implementing fertility benefits, employers ensure LGBTQ+ individuals, women, single parents, and those from diverse socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds have access to clinics, surrogacy and adoption agencies, donors, or whatever services they need to build their families. As an organisation, this will showcase a commitment equal treatment and opportunity regardless of sexual orientation, and increase your chances of attracting a more diverse pool of applicants.

Click here to discover how fertility benefits change lives!

Menopause & women's health‍

Menopause is an inevitable life experience for all women. It's crucial employers acknowledge this, and offer support for the 75-80% of menopausal women who experience symptoms that impact their daily lives.

Menopause treatments such as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and counselling services consistently have a positive impact in helping menopausal women manage their symptoms. With 1 in 4 women considering leaving their jobs due to menopause symptoms, it's crucial companies do what they can to help people relieve their symptoms and, in many cases, continue to work.

Companies without meaningful menopause support may struggle to attract and retain women, particularly those of menopausal age who are more likely to occupy leadership positions.

Women's health

‍Women's health benefits support workplace diversity by addressing issues like menstrual health, endometriosis, pregnancy complications, and menopause, which uniquely affect women.

Flexible schedules, specialised healthcare, and mental health support helps women manage these challenges without impacting their careers. With 1 in 10 women affected by endometriosis, inclusive benefits that grant women access to the relevant services are a must-have for productivity, satisfaction and retention.

Men’s Health‍

Men's health benefits provide employees with testing, diagnostics and treatment for gendered conditions like erectile dysfunction, or those that disproportionately affect men such as prostate cancer, mental health challenges, and heart disease.

By implementing support for all the areas of reproductive health listed above, you can demonstrate your commitment to gender equality - crucial for any organisation wanting to build and maintain a diverse workforce. If you’re looking to enhance your workplace support for any of the above, our library of resources, HR guides, and policy templates is a great starting point.

2. Flexible Work Arrangements

Flexible working arrangements such as remote work, flexible hours, and compressed workweeks have shown to improve retention rates. One study by the that 81% of employees reported higher job satisfaction with flexible working options.

This is largely because they allow some employees to better balance their personal and professional responsibilities, and in many cases remain in their roles. Flexible working can make all the difference for groups like:

• Caregivers: Employees caring for children, elderly relatives, or disabled family members.
• Employees with disabilities: Flexible schedules can reduce barriers to accessing workspaces or managing health needs.

Flexible working and cultural diversity

So what is cultural diversity? Cultural diversity is the existence of a wide variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a workplace, and a respect for cultural differences by management and leadership teams.

Employees based in different time zones or celebrating religious holidays or cultural holidays may need flexible working schedules. For example, some employees may need to work from home or shift their hours to observe a religious festival, so it's important for employers to show they respect cultural differences and religious beliefs.

3. Neurodiversity support

Neurodivergent individuals have a unique way of thinking and processing information that can bring fresh perspectives and creative approaches to problem solving. According to a Deloitte study, businesses that employ neurodiverse individuals can experience a 30% improvement in productivity when assigned to roles suited to their unique skills, so it's important to accommodate their needs where you can.

If you're unsure how to get started, please don't hesitate to reach out!

At Fertifa, we work with business to make sure neurodiverse employees feel that they are supported, valued, and have the tools they need to thrive. In the long-run, implementing a neurodiversity benefit will help an organisation attract and retain neurodiverse individuals rather than shutting themselves off from them, particularly during the hiring process.

Discover our neurodiversity support

4. Parental Leave for All Genders

Parental leave policies should accommodate all employees and offer equal leave allowance for mothers, fathers, and non-birthing parents. If you're looking to draft a parental leave policy of your own, be sure to to check out our free template!

Some examples of best practices include:

• Equal parental leave regardless of gender, as seen at Spotify and Netflix.
• Providing phased return-to-work options for new parents.
• Ensure you're complying with current employee rights for maternity and paternity leave: Check out our up-to-date breakdown if you're unsure

5. Mental health support

Mental health benefits promote workplace diversity by creating an inclusive environment that supports employees from all backgrounds, including those who may face unique stressors, such as discrimination or cultural stigma. Offering comprehensive mental health employee resources signals a commitment to employee well-being, reducing barriers for diverse talent to thrive.

A study by Mind Share Partners found that 86% of employees believe that a company’s culture should support mental health, and workplaces with robust mental health benefits are more likely to attract and retain diverse talent, fostering inclusivity.

6. Diversity-Focused Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

ERGs empower employees to connect with colleagues who share similar backgrounds, interests, sexual orientations and more. Examples of impactful ERGs include:

• Groups for women in leadership teams, such as Lean In Circles.
• Networks for LGBTQ+ employees, like those supported by Stonewall, can help create communities and offer safe spaces for people.
• Forums for employees of colour to discuss challenges and opportunities.

Providing funding, executive sponsorship, and time for ERG activities ensures these groups have the tools to influence organisational change, and can often have positive impacts on diversity initiatives or inclusion strategies.

Diversity training

While diversity training is not a benefit as such, it does promote workplace diversity by increasing awareness of unconscious biases, teaching inclusive communication, and equipping employees with tools to value and respect differences. Diversity training regularly has a positive impact by creating a more equitable environment where all employees feel welcomed and supported, reducing discrimination and encouraging better collaboration.

Investing in benefits is a tangible way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and establishing an equitable and inclusive company culture. By offering thoughtful, comprehensive benefits like reproductive health coverage, flexible work arrangements, and neurodiversity assessments, organisations can attract, support, and retain a workforce that feels valued and reflects the rich diversity of society.

Additional resources to help you create a more inclusive culture

• 6 recruitment strategies to build a diverse and inclusive workforce
• 8 examples of diversity in the workplace