Nowadays diversity and inclusion in the workforce are crucial topics of Corporate Social Responsibility of any organization around the world. These concepts are widely discussed in the academic research and extensively implemented in organizations' practices and policies. Moreover, diversity and inclusion may have an impact on any organization, whether through the absence or presence of these concepts. They may influence both financial indicators and the culture within a company. Effective D&I practices can drive innovation, enhance employee engagement, and improve decision-making processes, while their absence or improper implementation may lead to diminished performance and potential financial setbacks.
Despite the extensive research on D&I, a notable research gap remains, as most studies primarily focus on developed Anglo-Saxon countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Therefore, other countries have not received sufficient investigation on the topic diversity and inclusion in their organizations. For this reason, this paper is devoted to a comparative analysis of the diversity and inclusion in the workforce of national companies in countries that have not been studied properly before. Russia, China, Turkey and Brazil have been chosen for the analysis due to lack of research, geographical diversity, economic significance, and the rich national cultures. By examining the D&I practices in these diverse settings, the study seeks to uncover common patterns and distinctive differences in how D&I is implemented. This paper is a continuation of a pilot study on the topic “Diversity and inclusion: Comparative analysis of Russian and Chinese companies” conducted by the author in 2023.
Research goal
Research goal is to identify and compare the dimensions and practices of diversity and inclusion in the workforce of national companies from different national contexts - Russia, China, Turkey, and Brazil.
Research objectives
To achieve the research goal the following objectives have been defined:
• Conduct a comprehensive literature review on diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
• Determine the research methodology and data for the analysis.
• Select national companies that exemplify diversity and inclusion in their activities and policies.
• Analyze and disclose information provided by these companies regarding their D&I dimensions and tool.
• Identify national patterns in D&I practices within the workforce.
• Make a comparative analysis of the national patterns and identify the similarities and differences among these companies.
Research object and subject
The research object of this paper is national companies from Russia, China, Turkey, and Brazil. Meanwhile, the research subject is dimensions and practices of diversity and inclusion within the workforce of these companies.
Characteristics of research methodology and data
The study is conducted by implementing both inductive and deductive approaches. Initially, theoretical concepts are used to create analytical codes, which are then refined during the data analysis. Content and thematic analyses are conducted to examine the availability and depth of D&I practices, using both qualitative and quantitative data. The study utilizes secondary data from non-financial reports, such as sustainability reports, integrated annual reports, and ESG reports, from 40 companies selected based on ESG ratings in 2021.
Description of paper structure
This paper consists of an introduction, two chapters, conclusion, references, and an appendix.
• Introduction: Outlines the research relevance and problem, goal, objectives, object and subject, research methodology and data, and the paper structure.
• Chapter 1. Theoretical background: Provides an understanding of the main concepts of diversity and inclusion, their value, their role in CSR, and their context in different national settings.
• Chapter 2. Empirical Analysis: Describes the choice of countries for analysis, the methods and data collection, and presents the data analysis and discussion of the results for the selected national companies.
• Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, outlines the limitations of the study, and suggests theoretical and practical implications for future research.
This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of diversity and inclusion practices in the workforce of national companies from Russia, China, Turkey, and Brazil. The research goal is to identify and compare the dimensions and practices of diversity and inclusion in the workforce of national companies from different national contexts - Russia, China, Turkey, and Brazil. By performing a cross-country comparative analysis, this study aims to uncover common patterns and differences in D&I practices among these countries. Through a detailed examination of non-financial reports from 40 companies, several key findings emerged. All countries pay more attention to the primary dimensions of diversity rather than to secondary ones. All countries prioritize gender diversity, while Russia and Brazil also focus significantly on age and disability, with Brazil additionally emphasizing race and sexual orientation. Turkish companies pay special attention to religious and family status diversity due to cultural factors. All other dimensions and practices are not sufficiently disclosed.
Common inclusion tools across all countries include D&I policies and equal pay initiatives. However, there are notable differences: Russian companies frequently employ trainings on D&I, Chinese companies focus on Employee Trade Unions, Turkish companies emphasize a combination of trainings on D&I, Code of Ethics, leadership programs, support to parents and internal analysis, while Brazilian companies implement diverse tools including trainings on D&I, diversity KPIs, leadership programs, internship programs, and cooperation with institutions. The identified dimensions of diversity and inclusion practices in national companies of Russia, China, Turkey, and Brazil may be possibly attributed to various socio-cultural, legal, and economic factors. Overall, Brazilian and Russian companies provide more detailed and comprehensive D&I practices in their reports compared to Turkish and Chinese companies, with Chinese companies disclosing the least amount of information on D&I topics. It seems that diversity and inclusion in the workforce in China have just begun to develop.
It is clear that diversity and inclusion present in any organization regardless how much attention is paid to them. These concepts are supposed to gain a greater importance every year.
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