Employees aren’t as optimistic about company diversity efforts as managers. Consultants explain why, and how to change that.

Employees aren’t as optimistic about company diversity efforts as managers. Consultants explain why, and how to change that.

One year after a wave of civil rights protests pushed CEOs to double down on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Insider surveyed workers on how they think corporate leaders are doing to fulfill their promises. As part of a series called , Insider conducted a survey of over 1,000 professionals, the majority of American workers think business leaders are motivated to improve DEI in the workplace. However, managers are significantly more hopeful than rank-and-file employees. About 74% of managers said they think their employer's executive team cares about improving diversity, compared to 63% of workers. As corporate America faces increasing pressure from , , and to make good on DEI promises, addressing the gap between manager and employee sentiment is crucial. DEI consultants said that leaders who drive employee engagement around DEI goals will be more successful in their goals. For , DEI principal at consultancy The Raben Group, the findings were not surprising. Individuals who are largely at the worker or individual contributor level are more likely to be from historically marginalized groups, she explained. Data shows managers and leaders, across a variety of industries, are more likely to be white. "It's not surprising that workers, individuals who do