Can you afford to ignore DEI?

Despite the rumours, DEI isn’t dead. In fact, a recent Irish Management Institute (IMI) study revealed that 97% of senior business leaders in Ireland plan to strengthen or sustain their DEI initiatives. Most of the backlash against DEI comes from its supposed lack of success, difficulties working with US businesses, and perceived concerns about unfair treatment. 

But where there’s backlash, there’s the chance to be the voice of reason. And there are plenty of reasons to have a strong DEI policy. 

What’s the deal with DEI? 

Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives can drive innovation, nurture hidden talent, and attract the best candidates. Rather than scaling back on DEI, Irish business owners see it as a way to build diverse workforces in a measured and progressive way. 

Getting DEI right can take time and effort. Business owners must comply with regulatory requirements. But doing this can positively impact your workforce. Here are some ways to stay on track: 

Train your teams 

Firstly, know the law. All staff need to be trained on equality, diversity and inclusion awareness. You need the right policies in place, you need to share them, and you need to make sure your employees have read and understood what acceptable behaviour is. Codes of conduct need to be clear, concise, and communicated. 

BrightLearn, our online learning portal, lets you assign CPD-accredited courses to your staff and track their progress through our integrated HR software. As well as keeping up with your legal obligations, you can attract and engage staff with professional growth. 

Get in the know 

Making sure your employees are trained is a great start. But you also need to stay up-to-date with your own reporting responsibilities under the Employment Equality Acts.  

A recent change for Irish businesses is the Gender Pay Gap Information Act which ensures equal pay for equal-value work. Under the Act, from June 2025, gender pay gap reporting became mandatory for Irish businesses with 50 or more employees. By November 2025, those businesses will need to publish information including: 

• Hourly pay 

• Full or part time status 

• Bonus payments 

• Percentage of employees receiving a bonus or benefits in kind 

• The reasons for any pay gaps; and  

• The ways you are going to address them  

BrightBase, our library of expert-written policies, templates and guides, has all the documents you need to meet your legal obligations. And you can track pay and hours quickly and easily inside BrightHR. 

You can also look at our library of webinars and sign up for upcoming webcasts to get up to speed on employment law, health & safety and wellbeing topics. 

Make it accessible 

Take the time to make sure your records are accurate, searchable and detailed. You’ll need them for reporting, audits, and reviews, so it’s better to make sure you’re up to date. 

Our integrated HR software will give you access to everything you need to manage your staff with one click, wherever you are in the world. Our information management tools give you secure, unlimited document storage with key updates and read receipts. 

Let BrightHR take on the hard work 

Diversity brings new ideas and fresh perspectives. By giving everyone a seat at the table, you’re engaging with future leaders, improving communication and building relationships.  

Make sure you and your employees are informed, get systems in place, and make your information accessible. You can create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, fulfil your obligations and make a positive difference.  

An integrated HR system like BrightHR can make all the difference. With information management tools and automated HR software, BrightLearn (our online learning portal) and BrightBase (for HR guides and templates) give you everything you need to manage your staff is in one place. 

BrightBase offers an extensive library of customisable and legally compliant policies and guides. Save time on creating your own diversity and inclusion policy with our ready-to-template. Then simply tailor it to meet your specific business needs. And for any concerns about your obligations, there’s BrightAdvice, our 24/7 employment law service and advice line. 

Book a free demo with our friendly experts to talk through your DEI responsibilities and learn how the right policies and e-learning can safeguard your business, We’ll show you all that and more!