Effort to diversify Google workforce sees little progress, report says

Dive Brief:

Google's annual report on diversity for 2018 has been issued, the fifth for the online giant, and the results are not encouraging. Female representation increased one-tenth of a percent to 30.9%. Black and Latino workers also increased one-tenth of a percent to 2.5% and 3.6% respectively.
Despite "significant effort," the data shows more work will need to be done to increase diversity and inclusion efforts in the company, Danielle Brown, VP and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said in the report. Moving forward, "ownership for diversity and inclusion will be shared between Google’s leadership team, People Operations, and Googlers," she added.
The company hopes increased transparency and an overarching strategy will help diversify their workforce, but is aware that creating an inclusive culture is also needed to meet their goals. The highest attrition rates reported for 2017 were among Black and Latino employees.

Dive Insight:

Google certainly isn't the only company working to boost diversity in its workforce, but recent negative media has made the online giant's efforts more visible to the public. While demand for more inclusion is on the rise, success in meeting those goals, particularly in the tech industry, has stalled. One report suggests "diversity fatigue" is setting in at many companies that are not seeing a return on their efforts.

Google continues to fight gender bias claims brought by female workers suing for being paid less than their male counterparts. Other lawsuits alleging sexual harassment point to the company's "bro-culture." At Alphabet, Google's parent company, shareholders voted down a proposal by employees to tie diversity goals to compensation; one staffer called the vote "chilling."

The imperative to increase diversity is more than good public relations strategy. Research shows diversity increases innovation in the workforce. Managing a culture that is inclusive and invites diversity is a first step, but Google appears to be finding that hiring for diversity isn't enough; without a culture of inclusion, attrition rates can thwart efforts to change minds and measurements.