Social inclusion and diversity management in Russian companies in the context of global challenges (a view from HR managers)

The management of socio-cultural diversity in the field of work and the development of an inclusive working environment directly contributes to the activation and strengthening of the human potential of employees.

The research project "Social Inclusion and Diversity Management in Russian Companies in the context of global challenges (a view from HR managers)" focuses on how to turn diversity into a competitive advantage for companies, how to use social or cultural differences as a resource and how to ensure social inclusion and contribute to the development of society as a whole.

The aim of the project is to analyze the state and prospects of inclusive employment in Russian companies and factors affecting diversity management in the context of global challenges. 

Project objectives:

•  Identification of drivers and barriers to inclusion in the work environment of socially vulnerable groups of people.
•  Analysis of attitudes and values of sociocultural diversity and social inclusion of HR department managers of Russian business companies in institutional and discursive dimensions in the context of global challenges.
•  Development of a model for managing the socio-cultural diversity of personnel and proposals for the development of the practice of managing the socio-cultural diversity of personnel.
•  Creating a system of indicators for inclusive employment and diversity management in Russian organizations.
•  Development of the Russian Index of Inclusive Employment.

Key results for 2020

From the point of view of international and Russian experience, the role of non-profit organizations in the process of inclusive employment of citizens from socially vulnerable groups is studied and presented. The analysis of the production of meanings (sense-making) as a result of the interaction of individual attitudes of HR managers and specific characteristics of organizations and institutions is proposed. The original theoretical framework of the study was developed and substantiated, considering the theory of sense-making from the point of view of neo-institutionalism, which allowed identifying factors of ensuring social inclusion at different levels – international norms, characteristics of organizations, individual characteristics of HR managers, while taking into account the conditions of global challenges. The reasons for the development of a sample planned for 2021-2022 are presented. the all-Russian formalized interview of HR managers of companies at all levels and sectors of the economy on their perception and implementation of practices related to diversity and inclusiveness in the recruitment process and in the workplace in their organizations. 

Key results of 2021

On the basis of conducting semi-formalized interviews with HR managers, a set of meanings and interpretations of social inclusion and diversity management by HR managers has been identified. Using the interview results, quantitative indicators were formed for the all-Russian formalized representative survey of HR managers of Russian and multinational companies. Based on the results of the survey, the current state of socio-cultural diversity and social inclusion in companies of different sizes operating in Russia is presented, as well as the practices of inclusive employment of people with disabilities and diversity management practices implemented in companies are identified. 

The research results were presented at the following international scientific conferences and expert forums in Russia and abroad.