BSI has launched BS 76005, a new standard approach for employers to value their employees through diversity and inclusion.
The standard, BS 76005 Valuing people through diversity and inclusion – code of practice for organisations, provides recommendations for reviewing, assessing and undertaking a competent and principled approach to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Anne Hayes, head of governance and resilience at BSI, said: “Diversity and inclusivity in the workplace is no longer a peripheral issue for organisations – it is fast gaining acceptance in boardrooms across the UK as an issue which must be taken seriously.
“Taking steps to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace is in the interest of all organisations, whether they have 10 employees or 10,000.
“BS 76005 provides a holistic approach to diversity and inclusion which enables organisations to demonstrate a real commitment to valuing people at every level. Fundamentally, this standard is intended to facilitate the fairness and dignity of all at work.”
The recommendations in BS 76005 cover people management and development, and the evolution of more inclusive policies, procedures, practices and behaviours within organisations supporting diversity. The building of productive relationships with others – be they customers, clients or people within communities – is also a key recommendation in the standard.
BS 76005 is relevant to all organisations, whatever their size, sector and level of maturity. The standard recognises that each organisation is different and that decision-makers are best placed to determine the most appropriate approach according to their organisation’s context.
BSI said that, in the standard, “valuing people” is not confined to the quantifiable monetary value; the term is used in recognition that “value” is the actual or potential contribution that people at all levels in the organisation make as a result of their “capabilities, knowledge, skills, networks, experience, attitudes and insights”.
The phrase “working on behalf of an organisation” is deliberately used throughout to acknowledge those who might be working on behalf of organisations through agencies, sub-contractors and self-employment arrangements.
The Business Disability Forum, Business in the Community, the CIPD, the National Centre for Diversity, the Women’s Engineering Society and the University of Worcester. Experts in management consultancy and management and stakeholder relations were also involved in the development of the standard, as well as individual experts from: ACAS and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
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