Return to office mandates - what's the real impact? 📉
Diversifying Group
Inclusive Recruitment | Executive Search | Board Recruitment | D&I Consulting, Training & Events | Proud B Corp
Welcome to our first newsletter in our new monthly format!
I have to admit, I’m not a big reader. After university, I lost my passion for reading for quite some time but found my way back to it. More recently, my own lived experiences and the work we do at Diversifying Group sparked my interest in reading about DEI.
Lately, I’ve been following Camille Lemieux, the Global DEI Manager at Springer Nature, on LinkedIn. She’s taken on the impressive task of reading 51+ books about DEI, as she puts it, “so you don’t have to." Camille is currently on book six, so there’s plenty more to come. Her insights and summaries are brilliant, making it much easier for me to figure out which books are worth diving into.
If you’re interested in DEI (and I assume you are, since you’re subscribed to Diversity Lens!), I highly recommend subscribing to her DEI book review newsletter. 📚
- Oliver, Director of Marketing & Creative
QUICK FIRE NEWS 🧨
LET'S GET INTO IT 👇
London's new Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime announced
Kaya Comer-Schwartz has been appointed by Sadiq Khan to help rebuild trust in the police and tackle safety concerns in the capital.
New leadership in policing
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, former Islington Council leader, is taking over as London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime. With a background in transforming youth justice services and supporting survivors of violence, she’s stepping into the role as Sophie Linden, who has held the position for the last eight years, moves on. Comer-Schwartz’s confirmation is pending a London Assembly hearing, but her track record in public safety and community work makes her a promising choice for the job.
Why does this matter?
London is facing serious challenges around public safety and trust in the police, especially within diverse communities. Comer-Schwartz’s experience and commitment to justice come at a crucial time, and her focus on reform and safety could bring much-needed change. How she handles these issues will have a significant impact on the future of policing and community relations in the city.
UK Black History Month
As this year’s Black History Month comes to a close, we hope it’s sparked meaningful reflection and conversation. Throughout the month, we created some valuable content, including why it's not enough to simply not be racist and the importance of being actively anti-racist, how racism impacts your job search, as well as a thought-provoking blog on whether Afro hair should be a protected characteristic.
Check the blog out below. ⬇️
Return to office mandates: are they helping or hurting?
Mandating a return to the office is affecting employee satisfaction and productivity, but some leaders say it’s needed for better teamwork and innovation.
What's happening?
Many companies pushing for return-to-office policies are seeing negative effects. Studies show these mandates lead to lower engagement, less trust between employees and managers, and higher turnover, especially for marginalised groups. Surprisingly, 80% of executives who pushed for return-to-office mandates ended up regretting it, yet the trend continues.
However, some leaders argue that being together in person helps spark creativity and build stronger connections. They believe working remotely can make it harder to collaborate effectively.
What's the bigger picture?
While some companies see value in office-based work for team collaboration, the data suggests that forcing employees back isn’t delivering the expected benefits. Return-to-office mandates haven’t improved productivity or profits much, and they are hurting morale and loyalty. Businesses that offer more flexibility, focus on outcomes, and trust their teams seem to be doing better in the new hybrid working era.
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THIS MONTH WE'RE LOVING 🥰
📺 Will Ferrell's Netflix documentary about his trans friend Harper
📸 New Black queer histories exhibit - Making a rukus!
🎼 How Black record stores shaped UK music
✨ JOB SPOTLIGHT ✨
📍 London 💷 £24,280 (+ £5,318 London Living Allowance)
⏳ 5th November
Who are they?
BBC World Service is the BBC’s international radio station, providing news to global audiences through 42 language services. With a mission to bring the world together, making connections and helping listeners make sense of the world, they’re looking for aspiring journalists to join their Future Voices trainee scheme.
Is it for you?
Are you a fluent speaker and/or have a deep cultural connection to any of the BBC World Service languages? If you are an aspiring journalist, are curious about the world and have a knack for creatively sharing ideas – this is for you. Through the scheme, you’ll receive training to shape you into a multi-platform journalist and develop your skills.
📌 This role is advertised as part of the BBC’s Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role, you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010). If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about the Extend programme, please contact the BBC Extend team.
Papyrus UK
HOPELINE247 Adviser📍Warrington 💷 £27,520-£30,540k
⏳ 24/11
HOPELINE247 Adviser📍Cardiff 💷 £27,520-£30,540k
⏳ 17/11
English Heritage
Carlisle Castle Cluster Manager📍Carlisle 💷 £37,863 ⏳ 03/11
Whitby Abbey Cluster Manager 📍Whitby 💷 £37,863 ⏳ 03/11
Greater London Authority
Principal Policy and Programme Officer 📍London 💷 £63,112
⏳ 04/11
LGBT Foundation
Creative and Projects Officer📍Manchester (Hybrid) 💷 £23,319
⏳ 11/11
LGBTQ+ ISVA📍Manchester (Hybrid) 💷 £29,210 ⏳04/11