Language changes needed to drive ‘sustainable change’ for diversity

It comes as part of a joint report published by UK Finance, EY and Microsoft, which also highlights contentious terms that have become synonymous with race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, accessibility and criminality.

Additionally, it explores what impact these have on society, the financial services industry and individuals.

It’s been published in order to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace – which, it says, can drive better business performance. Companies in the top-quartile for gender diversity on their executive team were 21% more likely to outperform on profitability, and 27% more likely to have superior value creation.

In order to improve its inclusivity, it suggests alternatives to replace a number of commonly-used terms – such as language aligned to race or ethnicity, such as “black market” and “white list” could be changed to “illegal market” or “allow list,” respectively.

The report’s 12-step guide aims to drive “sustainable change” and says organisations should first review the language they currently use in technology and cyber, before identifying non-inclusive language. Next, they should secure technology and cyber leadership support, as well as engage with their central diversity and inclusion or HR team.

Following that, they should agree on a set of alternative words to replace the non-inclusive language and then gain support from business leadership. After this, they should consider cultural alignment, engage employees to help shape the response before approving the alternative words.

Organisations should then push forward a communications strategy for the new words, update policy documents and assign maintenance responsibility.

Commenting on this news, UK Finance chief executive David Postings, said: “Non-inclusive language can alienate and create an unfair and unequal society. With thanks to our members, EY and Microsoft, we hope that this report offers firms insight into how making changes to language used in technology and cybersecurity will drive positive action to the benefit of wider society.”

EY’s director, Nina Driscoll, added: “Using inclusive language is vital to cultivating the right sort of behaviours and, ultimately, achieving the best outcomes. We hope this report shows firms across the technology and cybersecurity space just how important it is to use language which makes everyone feel comfortable.”

Microsoft’s chief security advisor, Sarah Armstrong-Smith, added: “The insights offered through this report will foster a more diverse and thriving financial sector as organisations consider their approaches to diversity and inclusion and welcome in additional changes of benefit to wider society.

“Currently at different stages of implementing their approaches to diversity and inclusion, today’s report identifies key focus areas regarding language and provides a 12-step guide on what firms can do to help drive sustainable change.”