Making the best use of everyone's talents : Promoting diversity in the workplace

Recruiting and managing a diverse workforce can have economic benefits for business as employees from diverse backgrounds can bring new perspectives and ideas, helping companies to reach new customers and markets. Creating a workplace where diversity is respected can also help employees be more productive, as they feel able to be open about all aspects of their lives or identities with their colleagues and so can be themselves at work. This short film focuses on four companies in Belgium and Ireland to show how they successfully recruit and manage diverse workforces and the tools and actors available which can provide support. It also highlights the advantages for both employees and businesses of promoting diversity at work. For companies these include resolving labour shortages, as well as recruiting gains from implementing a diversity policy, according to research commissioned by the European Commission. The film was produced within the framework of the European information campaign 'For Diversity. Against Discrimination'. on the occasion of the Fourth Equality Summit held in Brussels, Belgium(15-16 November 2010)