The impact of inclusion on employee engagement : evidence from the South African financial sector

Abstract

Globalisation has been expedited by technological advancements, which have led to a growing number of diverse workforces on a global scale. Nevertheless, diversity is an inherent characteristic of South Africa's demographic makeup. However, the mere presence of diverse individuals does not necessarily promote an inclusive environment, and diversity alone does not equate to inclusion. Scholars have conducted a comprehensive examination of diversity and inclusion, highlighting the significance of inclusion in facilitating the success of diverse workforces. Nevertheless, such studies have not investigated South Africa's finance sector context; this research has been conducted in other regions and various sectors. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the correlation between employee engagement and inclusion in the finance sector of South Africa, thereby contributing to the current existing knowledge on the subject. This study employed a structured questionnaire to collect data from 211 respondents in the South African finance sector, utilising a quantitative approach. The results demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between employee engagement and inclusion, suggesting that inclusion functions as a predictor of employee engagement. These findings emphasise the critical importance of inclusive practices in the development of a productive and engaged workforce in diverse organisational settings.