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The business case for equal opportunities

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  • Rebecca Riley
  • Hilary Metcalf
  • John Forth

Abstract

It has long been argued that equality of opportunity brings business benefits and that it is in employers' interest to implement policy to promote equality of opportunity. We present new evidence on this issue from the Workplace Employment Relations Survey 2004. There do not appear to be large and widespread business benefits associated with Equal Opportunities policies amongst the establishments that implement these; nor do there appear to be large and widespread costs to businesses of the same. Nevertheless, we suggest that the net benefits to society of Equal Opportunities policies are likely to differ substantially from the net benefits to businesses.
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Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Riley & Hilary Metcalf & John Forth, 2013. "The business case for equal opportunities," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 216-239, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:indrel:v:44:y:2013:i:3:p:216-239
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/irj.12017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. McGinnity F & Russell H, 2011. "Workplace Equality in the Recession? The Incidence and Impact of Equality Policies and Flexible Working," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BKMNEXT200, June.
    2. Laura C. William, 2016. "The implementation of equality legislation: the case of disabled graduates and reasonable adjustments," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(4), pages 341-359, July.

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