Gender discrimination is still the most common

Two-thirds of the survey participants (64 percent) say that equality is represented in their workplace, that is, that each individual has the same status, is not discriminated against based on any kind of diversity and has fair treatment, access and equal opportunities for advancement. Slightly more than one-third of those surveyed believe that the principle of equality is not applied in their workplace. 

A slightly smaller percentage of those surveyed (58 percent) believe that diversity is represented in their workplace and that everything that makes people different is appreciated and respected. 

However, when it comes to inclusion, that is, the inclusion and empowerment of different groups and their integration into the business environment, that percentage drops significantly to only 42 percent of those surveyed. 

Almost 98 pecent of surveyees think that diversity, equity, and inclusion at workplace are extremely sigificant, although three-fourths (71 percent) witnessed a situation in business environment when these principles were infringed. 

The most prevalent type of discrimination that the survey participants witnessed, or experienced, is based on gender (58 percent). Discrimination based on physical appearance is also widely noticeable (43 percent). This is followed by discrimination based on age (27 percent) and political orientation (21 percent). Only a little more than a quarter of survey participants say that they have never experienced discrimination at work or witnessed such a situation. 

The survey results also show that employers in Serbia treat women unequally, mostly in the sense that they are paid less, there are fewer of them in management positions, and they are often bypassed when it comes to promotion. 80 percent of those surveyed think so, while 60 percent of them say that women are also discriminated against based on their marital status. 

People with disabilities also face discrimination to a large extent, according to 41 percent of those surveyed, while older people are also discriminated against in employment and promotion (70 percent). Younger people face discrimination to a much lesser extent (18% of survey participants have experienced or witnessed it). 

However, there are positive examples as well. Equal opportunities regardless of ethnicity, race or nationality is the most common positive example of respecting diversity and inclusion in respondents' business environment, while some of them cite equally paid positions as positive examples, as well as equal opportunities for advancement of men and women. 

When looking at the results of the survey and the opinions of the respondents the conclusion is that awareness of the importance of respecting diversity, equality and inclusion is at a very high level, and a large number of respondents recognize clear steps to raise awareness of diversity, equal opportunities and inclusion. 

To achieve that, as necessary measures respondents cite intense trainings for leaders and management, diversity of teams, introducing DEI policies into companies and empowering existing DEI values through trainings for all employees. They also consider it to be important to emphasize the business case for diversity and inclusion, as well as raising awareness about diversity in, and between the groups. 

Traditional Chapter 4 PR agency annual survey was conducted in the period between March 1 and 15, 2923. More than 200 respondents employed in the corporate sector, media, and entrepreneurship in Serbia's largest cities took part in it.