Question 1

What do you say to business leaders who say that DEI/Sustainability etc. is a “nice to have” but not required for making more money so cannot justify time and investment in it?

Carley Connell · Accepted Answer

If inclusion, wellbeing or sustainability are framed as moral extras, they will always feel optional, especially under commercial pressure. But BITC research increasingly shows these issues are not peripheral to performance (e.g., ‘Unlock the Value of a Thriving Workforce’ analysis with the McKinsey Health Institute estimates that improving employee wellbeing could unlock £130–£370 billion in annual UK economic value, driven by gains in productivity, retention and reduced absence.)

DEI and sustainability don’t guarantee short-term profit. But the evidence suggests they are increasingly part of the conditions that enable sustainable performance, resilience and growth.

Question 2

What do you say to business leaders who say that DEI/Sustainability etc. is a “nice to have” but not required for making more money so cannot justify time and investment in it?

Carley Connell · Accepted Answer

If inclusion, wellbeing or sustainability are framed as moral extras, they will always feel optional, especially under commercial pressure. But BITC research increasingly shows these issues are not peripheral to performance (e.g., ‘Unlock the Value of a Thriving Workforce’ analysis with the McKinsey Health Institute estimates that improving employee wellbeing could unlock £130–£370 billion in annual UK economic value, driven by gains in productivity, retention and reduced absence.)

DEI and sustainability don’t guarantee short-term profit. But the evidence suggests they are increasingly part of the conditions that enable sustainable performance, resilience and growth.

Question 3

What do you say to business leaders who say that DEI/Sustainability etc. is a “nice to have” but not required for making more money so cannot justify time and investment in it?

Carley Connell · Accepted Answer

If inclusion, wellbeing or sustainability are framed as moral extras, they will always feel optional, especially under commercial pressure. But BITC research increasingly shows these issues are not peripheral to performance (e.g., ‘Unlock the Value of a Thriving Workforce’ analysis with the McKinsey Health Institute estimates that improving employee wellbeing could unlock £130–£370 billion in annual UK economic value, driven by gains in productivity, retention and reduced absence.)

DEI and sustainability don’t guarantee short-term profit. But the evidence suggests they are increasingly part of the conditions that enable sustainable performance, resilience and growth.

Question 4

What do you say to business leaders who say that DEI/Sustainability etc. is a “nice to have” but not required for making more money so cannot justify time and investment in it?

Carley Connell · Accepted Answer

If inclusion, wellbeing or sustainability are framed as moral extras, they will always feel optional, especially under commercial pressure. But BITC research increasingly shows these issues are not peripheral to performance (e.g., ‘Unlock the Value of a Thriving Workforce’ analysis with the McKinsey Health Institute estimates that improving employee wellbeing could unlock £130–£370 billion in annual UK economic value, driven by gains in productivity, retention and reduced absence.)

DEI and sustainability don’t guarantee short-term profit. But the evidence suggests they are increasingly part of the conditions that enable sustainable performance, resilience and growth.