HR professionals look back at the challenges and progress of 2024 as the year comes to a close. To create better workplaces, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), remain crucial. Despite some setbacks, and a little resistance, there are many reasons to be optimistic about EDI by 2025.
The recent Recruitment Disability Initiative Awards (RIDI), which were held on 5th December, showed what is possible when workplaces are committed to change. The awards, which highlight organisations that have broken down barriers to disabled talent and are a source of inspiration for HR leaders, offer practical ideas.
Lessons learned from the RIDI Awards
The RIDI Awards honour organisations that have made a real difference for disabled workers in the workplace. The RIDI Awards this year include Irwin Mitchell which has seen a 62% increase in disabled applicants, and The Stepstone Group whose Accessibility Lab transforms recruitment practices.
These examples demonstrate that everyone benefits when businesses focus on inclusion – employees and the business as a whole.
Five predictions for 2025
Using data to drive inclusion
By 2025, data will be used by more organizations to identify gaps and track progress. DWF Early Careers Team uses tools like contextual recruitment technologies to remove bias by focusing on the candidate’s circumstances and not just their traditional qualifications. More companies will use data to make decisions.
Working Together for a Greater Impact
Collaboration will be the major theme. Businesses will work with advocacy groups and local organisations to achieve greater impact. Fair Shot Cafe, Great Western Railway and others have created jobs for people with disabilities. More partnerships will be formed in 2025 to help the underrepresented flourish.
Accessibility is now standard
Accessibility will no longer be a side issue, but an integral part of the workplace as technology becomes more prevalent. The Stepstone Group’s Accessibility Lab demonstrates how companies can adapt their recruitment tools to work for all. By 2025, more companies will adopt universal design principles to make their products and services accessible to all.
Recognising intersectional identities
EDI efforts will increasingly consider how different aspects of identity–like race, gender, and disability–intersect. This intersectionality approach helps people overcome the challenges they face when discrimination in multiple forms overlaps. Companies will develop initiatives in 2025 that reflect the complex realities.
Leaders driving change
Strong leadership is essential to EDI. The RIDI Award winners demonstrate how leaders can make a difference by prioritising inclusivity. HR leaders in 2025 will be focused on creating inclusive cultures, where EDI forms the foundation of an organisation’s strategic plan.
Why we should be optimistic
While there are still challenges, such as budget cuts and resistance against change, 2025 offers a chance to change things. The RIDI Awards show that even in difficult times, progress can be made.
Inclusion in the workplace is not only beneficial to employees, but also helps businesses grow. Diversity leads to higher innovation and retention rates, as well as stronger financial performance for companies. This proves that EDI doesn’t just make sense, it is also beneficial to business.
How HR leaders can prepare
To maximize these opportunities, HR professionals must:
- Investing in training: Teach your teams how to identify and challenge biases, and give them practical tools for building understanding and skills.
- Check policies: Review recruitment, promotion and workplace policies and ensure they are inclusive and accessible.
- Work with other organizations to increase your impact.
- Share your success with others to keep the momentum moving.
Looking ahead
The RIDI Awards show us what is possible when organisations are committed to inclusion. As we approach 2025, HR professionals will have the opportunity to create workplaces that allow everyone to thrive.
We can create a fairer, more inclusive future by focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion. This is something that should make us optimistic as we prepare for the new year.
