The report, "Talent not Tokenism", contains 12 case studies featuring businesses of all sizes who have proactively sought to achieve greater social diversity. The businesses reported a range of benefits, including higher morale and productivity, improved retention rates, lower recruitment costs and a better understanding of customers’ needs.

The report contains advice from senior executives at 10 leading companies, and the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips described the guidance as a "real-world, commonsense collection of stories and suggestions that will be useful for companies of all kinds and sizes".

Change in the workplace should be led by senior management and employee involvement, especially through trade unions and workforce representatives, and the report promotes positive action. Suggestions for bringing about change include:

• Offering flexible working patterns
• Providing enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Enrolling managers on diversity courses
• Running recruitment days for disabled people
• Establishing social networks for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees

The report clearly shows that all businesses should aim to improve the diversity of their workforce, and as the TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said, "the issue is not whether business can afford to diversify, but whether it can afford not to".