DTCC Addressing Religious Diversity

At the 2017 Tanenbaum Religious DIversity Leadership Summit, DTCC President and CEO Michael Bodson addressed the importance of supporting religious diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Addressing a diverse audience from different industries, Bodson expressed his passion for diversity and inclusion (D&I). He said that D&I is core to DTCC’s ability to support the financial services industry.

“For us, diversity and inclusion is not theoretical,” Bodson said. “It’s essential to our ability to execute on behalf of our clients and the global industry.”

The Evolution of the Workplace Landscape

Casting an eye toward the current workplace landscape, Bodson noted that while the environment has evolved dramatically over the past few decades in terms of race, gender and sexual orientation, religious D&I can be a trickier issue.

“For a very long time, the prevailing culture was to not talk about politics or religion,” Bodson said. “I believe this is changing, and has been for some time, both because of demographic shifts, but also because of a generational and cultural rotation that is occurring.”

As companies continue to evolve, they look at employees in an increasingly holistic manner, showing greater acceptance of displays, discussion and the practice of religion in the workplace. However, with the changing political winds and rise of populism, there is still work that needs to be done.

“There are many companies that avoid the topic altogether out of concern of alienating their customers or employees,” Bodson said. “This is the wrong way to approach the issue. Embracing the religious diversity of your employees is about respect and dignity—not the endorsement of any particular set of beliefs but a recognition that employees of differing beliefs can work together and thrive alongside each other.”

With shifting demographics and increasing numbers of religiously unaffiliated and non-Christians entering the workforce, religious diversity in the workplace is growing in importance. As a result, religious diversity needs to be an integral part of D&I efforts.

“By bringing religious diversity fully into corporate D&I efforts, companies will be in a better position to more holistically address the needs of all employees,” Bodson said. “As a result, they can help create the type of inclusive and accommodating environment that supports a more engaged workforce.”

Recognizing that DTCC’s journey is still a work in progress, he expressed his commitment to fostering a religiously inclusive environment.

“As a CEO, ensuring that employees are fully engaged is a high priority, and it is why religious diversity is important at DTCC. As the chairman of the DTCC D&I Council, I will make sure we continue to evolve our culture of inclusion, inclusive of religious diversity.”