Aged care workers can make their voices heard as part of the Diversity Council Australia’s groundbreaking research on social class.
Diversity Council Australia (DCA) is conducting new research on social class inclusion and is inviting workers across Australia to take part in a survey to support this important work. Nurses, carers, administration staff, hospitality workers, aged care professionals and more can all take part.
The study will inform an evidence-based approach for practical recommendations on how employers can address class-based inclusion and exclusion at work. Findings will draw on lived experience combined with the latest research on the topic.
Workers from a range of social class backgrounds are encouraged to share their lived experiences of class inclusion or exclusion. DC would also like to hear from human resource (HR) and diversity and inclusion (D&I) practitioners on their key workplace initiatives, demographics and more.
The research intends to build on a previous study called Class at Work which found that class, rather than other diversity-related demographics, is most strongly linked to workers experience of inclusion or exclusion at work.
The research, released in 2020, found that lower class workers are less likely to feel they have the same opportunities as their peers, while only half said they trusted their organisation to treat them fairly. Workers are also nearly twice as likely to experience discrimination and harassment at work.
However, when these employees are in an inclusive team, compared to a non-inclusive one, they are twice as likely to work hard and 10 times more likely to be part of a team that provides excellent customer services.
The survey will be open until 15 September 2024. It takes a maximum of 15 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous and treated confidentially. You can participate in the survey here. Results will be released in 2025.
