The role of diversity practices and inclusion in promoting trust and employee engagement

TLDR

The study examines how diversity practices influence employee engagement, hypothesizing that trust climate mediates this relationship and that inclusion strengthens the mediation. The authors analyzed data from 4,597 health sector employees, finding that diversity practices are linked to a trusting climate that in turn boosts engagement. The study found that inclusion moderates the link between diversity practices and trust climate, and discusses implications and future research.

Abstract

Abstract This paper investigates the association of diversity practices with an important aspect of workplace well‐being, engagement. It was hypothesized that this association would be mediated by trust climate, and that this mediation relationship would be stronger when employees experienced feelings of inclusion in the workplace. Using a sample of 4,597 health sector employees, results indicated that diversity practices are associated with a trusting climate that, in turn, is positively related to employee engagement. Furthermore, the relationship between diversity practices and trust climate was moderated by inclusion. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed along with recommendations for future research.