Diversity and Wellbeing
Benchmark 2015
Frequently Asked Questions
June 5, 2015
Version 2015-003
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Table of Contents
I.
About the Benchmark .....................................3
II.
Preparing to Benchmark .................................4
1.
What if I don't feel I can fully complete all of the survey? ................................................................ 4
2.
What if I want to supply you with supporting information but it is commercially sensitive and/or
confidential? .............................................................................................................................................. 4
3.
How do I submit my benchmark submission? ................................................................................. 4
4.
What if I only want to answer some questions for each characteristic? .......................................... 4
5.
How do I sign up to Benchmark? ..................................................................................................... 5
6.
Am I eligible to Benchmark? ............................................................................................................ 5
7.
Is there a cost involved? .................................................................................................................. 6
III.
Logins ...............................................................6
8.
My login doesn’t work / my benchmarking account appears to be suspended. How can I access
the benchmarking portal? .......................................................................................................................... 6
9.
How does it work with having multiple logins? Would each of my colleagues that are helping me
complete this need to set themselves up with a username and password? ............................................. 7
10.
IV.
If more than one person is logged in at once will information be saved correctly? ......................... 7
Completing the Benchmark Surveys.............7
11.
We don’t monitor very much, will that be a problem? ...................................................................... 7
12.
Why can’t I see any of the questions? ............................................................................................. 7
13.
How are the sectors determined and can I choose which sector my organisation belongs to? ...... 7
14.
I can see multiple copies of the same survey – what happened? ................................................... 8
15.
What if I can only send my evidence as hard copy (paper)? ........................................................... 8
16. What should I do if I'm not sure how to answer a question or worried that I am not completing the
survey correctly? ....................................................................................................................................... 8
17.
How do I save my answers? ............................................................................................................ 8
18.
What is the definition of BAME and / or white ethnic identity? ........................................................ 8
19. Can I copy over answers from my organisation’s 2014 submission to my organisation’s 2015
submission? ............................................................................................................................................... 9
20.
V.
Can I change my submission after submitting? ............................................................................... 9
Assessment, Results and Feedback .............9
21.
Who assesses my submission? ....................................................................................................... 9
22.
What outputs will I receive? ........................................................................................................... 10
23.
Will my organisation receive any public recognition for benchmarking? ....................................... 10
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24.
When will we receive our benchmark results? ............................................................................... 10
25.
Can I share benchmark results? .................................................................................................... 11
26.
Will anyone else know my results? ................................................................................................ 11
27.
Can I see how other organisations performed in the benchmark? ................................................ 11
VI.
28.
About the Benchmark .................................. 11
What is the BITC Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark? ................................................................ 11
29. What is the difference is between the Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark and the Opportunity
Now/Race for Opportunity benchmarks? ................................................................................................ 12
30. How is the benchmark different from the FTSE 100 Public Reporting: Employee Engagement and
Wellbeing report? .................................................................................................................................... 12
31.
How is the benchmark different from The Times Top 50 Employers for Women? ........................ 12
32. Will my benchmark score contribute to my Race for Opportunity or Opportunity Now award
submission? ............................................................................................................................................. 13
VII.
Further questions or clarifications ............. 13
About the Benchmark
The BITC Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark measures age, ethnicity, and gender workplace diversity
and employee wellbeing.
The benchmark is a management tool to help organisations evaluate their performance and inform
evidence-based decision-making around workplace diversity and wellbeing.
Business in the Community uses all survey responses to benchmark participants against each other and
provides a score and banding which can be used publically or kept confidential (see Q25 below).
Participants can choose whether to benchmark in one or more of these themes – Diversity and/or Wellbeing.
At the beginning of the benchmark, participants are asked to select which benchmark to participate in
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(Diversity and/or Wellbeing Benchmark(s)), and are then asked to select the diversity strand(s) they want
to benchmark for (age; ethnicity; and/or gender) within each.
Preparing to Benchmark
1. What if I don't feel I can fully complete all of the survey?
Don’t worry if you can’t answer every question. There is not a minimum number of questions that must be
answered in the Part 1: Impacts section. We understand that monitoring varies between organisations.
Part of the value of benchmarking is discovering metrics used by your peers and competitors. Please try
and answer what you can and then use the benchmark results to persuade your stakeholders to invest in
measuring and monitoring systems.
2. What if I want to supply you with supporting information but it is
commercially sensitive and/or confidential?
All information supplied to us is kept strictly confidential within the Diversity and Wellbeing benchmarking
team at Business in the Community.
3. How do I submit my benchmark submission?
The benchmarking process is operated through Probench, our web-based online benchmarking platform.
Race for Opportunity and Opportunity Now campaign members can download a copy of the benchmarking
questions in either MS Word or PDF format from our website [link]. Alternatively you can request a copy of
the survey from your main BITC contact or by contacting Thomas Alberts [link: [email protected]].
We request participating organisations identify a lead person to complete the benchmark (identified in the
survey’s qualifying questions).
We recommend participants create a working group to compile and prepare your submission using the
downloaded benchmark surveys to collate your data. Members of your working group might include
delegates from CSR, employee volunteering, marketing, procurement or any other division you think may
be useful.
Please note that we do not accept hardcopy submissions.
4. What if I only want to answer some questions for each
characteristic?
The benchmark survey requires participants to select at least one protected characteristic for which you
are benchmarking. The available characteristics are ethnicity, gender, and age. Your selection indicates
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your primary benchmark submission/s, and will ensure the relevant data entry fields are visible in
Probench, the benchmarking web-portal.
In addition to your primary survey submission, participants are also able to benchmark in other protected
characteristics on a question-by-question basis. For example, if your primary benchmark submission is
gender, but you are thinking about ethnic diversity in your recruit processes, you can opt to submit
ethnicity data at question 7. Simply tick the ethnicity tick box to reveal ethnicity data entry fields.
Similarly, if your primary submissions are ethnicity and gender, but as an organization you are developing
an interest in age in your workplace, you can opt to submit age data at question 2 on workplace
hierarchies.
5. How do I sign up to Benchmark?
Signing up to benchmark is easy. If you are a member of one of BITC’s diversity or wellbeing
campaigns (Opportunity Now; Race for Opportunity; Age at Work; Wellbeing), please speak with your
Diversity Advisor or main contact. If you are not a campaign member, but a member of BITC, please
speak with your Corporate Advisor or main contact. If you have no prior relationship with BITC or
would like further information or guidance about benchmarking, please contact Ruth Yohannes, [link:
[email protected]]
6. Am I eligible to Benchmark?
The benchmark comprises a confidential online two part survey – Part 1: Impacts and Part 2: Inputs.
The complete benchmarking processes involves participation in both Part 1: Impacts and Part 2:
Inputs.
Any employer of any size, sector and location is welcome to participate in the Benchmark. E.g. if you
are an international employer with a significant workforce in the UK, we encourage you to participate
and benchmark against UK peers.
Part 1: Impacts is open to all organisations at no cost. Part 1: Impacts collects workforce metrics
on diversity (age, ethnicity, or gender) or wellbeing to understand the outcomes of an organisation’s
policies, actions and culture around diversity and wellbeing. Age and wellbeing are only available in
Part 1. Organisations can choose to participate in Part 1 only. Any organisation can participate for
free in Part 1.
Part 2: Inputs covers ethnicity and gender only. It is an assessment of policy, practice, governance
and strategic approaches to ethnicity and gender diversity and inclusion. Age and wellbeing will be
introduced to Part 2 from 2016. Part 2 must be completed in conjunction with Part 1. There may be
costs associated for participation in Part 2 (see below to confirm).
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7. Is there a cost involved?
The Part 1: Impacts is open to any organisation for free.
Part 2: Inputs is free for members of the Business in the Community diversity and wellbeing campaigns*
to benchmark for the issue area or characteristic relevant to their membership. For example, a member of
both Race for Opportunity and Opportunity Now can complete the full benchmark (Part 1 and Part 2) for
ethnicity and gender for free. A member of Race for Opportunity can complete the full benchmark for race
(Part 1 and Part 2) for free, yet would have to pay a discounted fee to complete a full benchmark for
gender (Part 1 and Part 2).
We charge a fee to non-members and a discount to Business in the Community members to participate in
Part 2 of the benchmark.
The fee structure is:
Benchmarks
Non-member
BITC members
Part 1: Age, Ethnicity, Gender, Wellbeing
Free
Free
Campaign
member *
Free
Part 2: Ethnicity or Gender***
£2,450
£1,950
Free**
Part 2: Ethnicity and Gender***
£3,900
£3,125
Free**
* Member of one of the following: Opportunity Now; Race for Opportunity; Age at Work;
Wellbeing
** Note that in 2015 Part 2 focuses exclusively on gender and race
Prices include a feedback report and, for organisations completing the full benchmark (Part 1 and Part 2),
a two hour consultation with one of our Diversity Advisors (extended meeting if benchmarking across both
protected characteristics).
Logins
8. My login doesn’t work / my benchmarking account appears to be
suspended. How can I access the benchmarking portal?
We normally keep logins deactivated outside of the submission cycle, but we are happy to send anything
you require from previous cycles, including previous submissions. Please contact your Diversity Advisor or
Ruth Yohannes, [link: [email protected]]
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9. How does it work with having multiple logins? Would each of my
colleagues that are helping me complete this need to set
themselves up with a username and password?
We allow multiple colleagues from the same organisation to register to complete the benchmark submission.
Registration on Probench is automatic provided we already have your colleague’s name and email address.
Please speak with your Diversity Advisor if you think this may be a useful option for you.
10. If more than one person is logged in at once will information be
saved correctly?
Two people can work on the same survey at the same time (whether they are sharing the same username
and password, or using separate ones is irrelevant). However, if two people are working on the same
question as the same time, then whomever clicked “confirm and next” last would overwrite the other
person’s answer. Therefore, work on the survey at the same time – just not at the exact same question.
Completing the Benchmark Surveys
11.
We don’t monitor very much, will that be a problem?
There is not a minimum number of questions that must be answered in either the Part 1: Impacts or Part 2:
Inputs surveys. We understand that monitoring varies greatly between organisations. Part of the value of
benchmarking is discovering metrics used by your peers and competitors. Please try and answer what you
can and then use the benchmark results to persuade your stakeholders to invest in measuring and
monitoring systems.
12.
Why can’t I see any of the questions?
You have to answer the very first question in the “Qualifying questions” section. This concerns which
benchmark you are participating in (Diversity and/or Wellbeing) and which diversity strands you are
benchmarking with (age, ethnicity, and/or gender). Once you have indicated your choice, the relevant
questions will appear. This is the case for “Qualifying questions” in Part 1: Impact and Part 2: Input.
13. How are the sectors determined and can I choose which sector
my organisation belongs to?
The benchmark sectors are based on FTSE sector categories. Participants select their sector from an
available list. We also ask participants to indicate a second choice sector in the event that we don’t have at
least four participants from your first choice sector. Four is the minimum we require to sector comparisons.
Participants are informed if we need to use their second choice sector.
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14.
I can see multiple copies of the same survey – what happened?
The most likely explanation is that you started a new survey and then clicked the back button to go to the
portal page and then clicked “start new survey” again. We can delete your mistakenly started surveys.
Please contact Ruth Yohannes [link: [email protected]]. But in the meantime – please logout and
then login again: and then start to work on the top most survey.
15.
What if I can only send my evidence as hard copy (paper)?
Only three questions require corroborating evidence. We require this evidence in softcopy to be uploaded
to your submission. If you do not have soft copy forms to upload or are prevented from doing so by your IT
policy, then we will accept hard copies. Please speak with your Diversity Advisor or send any evidence in
an envelope marked ‘Confidential’ to FAO Thomas Alberts, Business in the Community, 137 Shepherdess
Walk, London, N1 7RQ.
16. What should I do if I'm not sure how to answer a question or
worried that I am not completing the survey correctly?
Contact your Diversity Advisor, or a member of the Race for Opportunity/ Opportunity Now team on 0207
566 6621, or e-mail [email protected] . We will identify someone who can answer your questions
immediately or help you to work through the survey.
17.
How do I save my answers?
The “Confirm and next" button is the equivalent of "Save". Press this button often. For narrative answers,
write them somewhere else first so that you can keep a backup copy (e.g. in MS Word) and then copy and
paste them into the relevant box before pressing “Confirm and next”. Please note that narrative answers
have word limits automatically enforced by Probench, our web-based benchmarking platform. Word counts
are clearly indicated; please ensure you do not exceed the allotted word count.
18.
What is the definition of BAME and / or white ethnic identity?
BAME is an acronym for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic. We refer to BAME extensively in both surveys,
particularly in Part 1: Impacts where we request key metrics. When referring to BAME and/or white groups,
we always make reference to the 2011 census categories (see table below).
Note that Groups 31, 32, 33 and 34 are not counted as BAME, and that eastern European ethnicities
typically are classified as “any other white background”.
Census 2011 Categories
White
Group
Description
31
English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British
32
Irish
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Mixed
group
/
Multiple
ethnic
Asian / Asian British
Black / African / Caribbean /
Black British
33
Gypsy or Irish Traveller
34
Any Other White background
35
White and Black Caribbean
36
White and Black African
37
White and Asian
38
Any Other Mixed / multiple ethnic background
39
Indian
40
Pakistani
41
Bangladeshi
42
Chinese
43
Any other Asian background
44
African
45
Caribbean
46
Any other Black / African / Caribbean background
19. Can I copy over answers from my organisation’s 2014
submission to my organisation’s 2015 submission?
No, regrettably this is not possible. Participants in previous years’ race and gender benchmarks are able
to access their archived submissions in Probench and can also download PDF versions of previous
submissions from Probench so that you can check the information you submitted for that year. If it is still
relevant and timely for 2015, you can copy and paste it into this years’ submission.
20.
Can I change my submission after submitting?
Participants can continue to edit their submission until the benchmarking period closes on Thursday 16
July. If you have completed and submitted your submission, you can still modify it until the benchmark
window closes. Simply click the “cancel submission” button and edit your submission. Remember to click
the submission button again when you are satisfied with your amendments. You will not be able to amend
your submission after the benchmarking period closes on Thursday 16 July.
Assessment, Results and Feedback
21.
Who assesses my submission?
Trained members of the BITC Diversity and Wellbeing team assess all submissions. Submissions are
double reviewed to ensure quality and consistency.
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22.
What outputs will I receive?
The outputs differ depending on whether you participate in only Part 1: Impacts or the full benchmark (Part
1 and Part 2).
Part 1 only participants:
- When you choose a diversity strand(s) at the start of the Diversity and/or Wellbeing Benchmark
you will receive a data-rich feedback report for each diversity strand(s) selected.
- Feedback reports contain quantitative information from all sections of the benchmark. The report
shows our analysis of your submission alongside aggregated submissions from participants in your
sector, public and private sector participants and all participants
- If you have submitted data on a question-by-question basis, in addition to a feedback report in your
core diversity strand(s) you will receive feedback for each of the additional questions outside of
your core submission for which you have submitted additional data. For example, you have
selected to benchmark for age in Part 1 Age, but also submitted gender data for five questions in
Part 1. You will receive a comprehensive benchmark report on Age, as well as benchmark
comparators for each of the five questions for which you provided gender data.
Part 1 and Part 2 participants:
- If you participate in the full benchmark (both Part 1 and Part 2), you will receive a comprehensive
data-rich feedback report that integrates benchmark comparators from Part 2: Inputs with Part 1:
Impacts.
- Participants in Part 2 are also able to request written guidance and recommendations. Core
members of Race for Opportunity and Opportunity Now may request written feedback for two
sections, and Champion members of the campaigns may select written feedback of up to five
sections. Your feedback selection is made within the Benchmark submission but is not final and
you can change your selection after completing your submission. Non-members may select
feedback in two sections.
- You will receive a feedback report for each diversity strand for which you benchmark.
23. Will my organisation receive any public recognition for
benchmarking?
All benchmark participants that complete both Parts 1: Impacts and Part 2: Inputs will receive a banding
(Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze) and a Business in the Community planter. The planter recognises your
organisation’s achievement and is for your organisation to use entirely at your discretion. We will not
publicise your organisation’s banding without your permission. We encourage you to use your planter to
publicise your achievements.
In previous years we have published four separate unranked lists of the Top 10 organisations for public and
private sectors in race and gender. From 2015 the Top 10 lists will be discontinued. We aim to publish a
list of the top banded organisations for ethnicity and for gender with organisational permission.
24.
When will we receive our benchmark results?
Benchmark results are sent directly to the person specified in your benchmark submission in the second
half of October.
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25.
Can I share benchmark results?
We encourage you to share your benchmark banding and results internally and externally, particularly with
internal stakeholders to inform change. We reserve the right to embargo the sharing of results externally
until we launch the Benchmark trends findings in early December 2015 and will inform you of this when
you’re results are shared initially.
26.
Will anyone else know my results?
Your results are confidential. Only the person specified in your benchmark submission to receive your
results and members of the BITC benchmarking team will see your results. We encourage participants to
circulate their feedback reports internally with key stakeholders and to publicise their banding in internal
external communications.
27.
Can I see how other organisations performed in the benchmark?
No, the benchmark is a confidential survey. We can facilitate an introduction to another benchmarking
organisation, if that organisation agrees. Please speak with your Diversity Advisor.
About the Benchmark
28.
What is the BITC Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark?
The BITC Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark measures age, ethnicity, and gender workplace diversity and
employee wellbeing.
The benchmark is a management tool to help organisations evaluate their performance and inform
evidence-based decision-making around workplace diversity and wellbeing.
Business in the Community uses all survey responses to benchmark participants against each other and
provides a score and banding which can be used publically or kept confidential (see Q23).
Participants can choose whether to benchmark in one or more of these themes – Diversity and/or Wellbeing.
At the beginning of the benchmark, participants are asked to select which benchmark to participate in
(Diversity and/or Wellbeing Benchmark(s)), and are then asked to select the diversity strand(s) they want
to benchmark for (age; ethnicity; and/or gender) within each.
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29. What is the difference is between the Diversity and Wellbeing
Benchmark and the Opportunity Now/Race for Opportunity
benchmarks?
The Business in the Community Gender and Race benchmarks, also known as the Opportunity Now /
Race for Opportunity benchmarks, have been renamed the Business in the Community Diversity and
Wellbeing Benchmark. The new name reflects that the benchmarks successfully run by Race for
Opportunity and Opportunity Now for several years have been expanded to include age and wellbeing for
Part 1: Impacts.
The Business in the Community Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark measures three strands of diversity
(age, ethnicity, and gender) and employee wellbeing. For organisations familiar with the Gender and
Race Benchmarks, the Diversity and Wellbeing Benchmark will be very familiar. The questions are almost
identical and it is still comprised of Part 1: Impacts and Part 2: Inputs. We have added additional data
points within some questions (for example with respect to Recruitment, Bullying and Harassment, Equal
Pay and Shared Parental Leave).
Participants are requested at the beginning of the survey to select a benchmark (Diversity and/or
Wellbeing) and one or more diversity strand(s) in which to benchmark (age; and/or ethnicity; and/or
gender) within each benchmark.
The age strand and wellbeing benchmark are currently available in Part 1 only and are being introduced
in phases, we will keep you posted on when they will be available in Part 2.
30. How is the benchmark different from the FTSE 100 Public
Reporting: Employee Engagement and Wellbeing report?
The BITC Wellbeing Public Reporting benchmark publication, published in April 2015, brings a three year
study to an end. We will not run a Wellbeing Public Reporting Benchmark next year, though we may return
to it in 2-3 years’ time, if and when there is greater appetite for it in the marketplace. We will continue to
use and share the Wellbeing Public Reporting Framework with relevant, interested stakeholders.
This year, for the first time, we have a combined Diversity and BITC Benchmark, which introduces elements
of age diversity and employee wellbeing for 2015. We will be looking to strengthen the Wellbeing
Benchmark next year so it can be a management tool for interested employers.
31. How is the benchmark different from The Times Top 50 Employers
for Women?
Similar to the Opportunity Now awards, The Times Top 50 Employers for Women are public recognitions
that celebrate those organisations that are doing the most for women. The assessment criteria, although
related, are distinct, and organisations in The Times Top 50 list are also assessed for activities and
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impacts with respect to non-employees. By contrast, the benchmark is almost exclusively focused on
workplaces and employees. The benchmark is an internal management tool designed to support
organisations with strategy and action-planning. If you are interested in entering a submission to the
Times Top 50 Employers for Women, please contact Louise Hall [[email protected]]
32. Will my benchmark score contribute to my Race for Opportunity
or Opportunity Now award submission?
Your benchmark score will not contribute to your Race for Opportunity or Opportunity Now award
submission. The benchmark and the awards are separate processes with separate purposes. The main
purpose of benchmarking is to help businesses improvement their workplace diversity, inclusion and
employee wellbeing by identifying areas of strengths and areas where performance can be improved. It is
an internal management tool designed to support organisations with strategy and action-planning. The
purpose of the awards is public celebration and recognition of achievements by awarding the very best
organisations in different award categories. If you are interested in entering a submission to either the Race
for Opportunity or Opportunity Now awards, please contact Thomas Colquhoun-Alberts
[[email protected]]
Further questions or clarifications
If you have further questions or clarifications, please contact your organisation’s Diversity Advisor (T:
+44(0)20 7566 8725) or the Benchmarking and Knowledge manager by email [link
[email protected]] or 020 7566 6621
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