C4DISC Releases Workplace Equity in Scholarly Communications 2023 Executive Summary

Five years after the Workplace Equity Survey (WE Survey) first benchmarked the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the global scholarly publishing industry, the Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications (C4DISC) conducted the survey for a second time in 2023. This week, C4DISC released Workplace Equity in Scholarly Communications 2023 Executive Summary, the initial analysis of the 2023 data and free-form comments collected across six continents from 1,755 respondents, 48% more than in 2018.

“Since 2018, employers made highly visible commitments to DEIA. C4DISC’s mission in conducting the second Workplace Equity Survey was to evaluate how our workplaces changed. By tapping into the lived experience of colleagues around the world, the survey sought to identify employees’ perceptions of change and if there was measurable progress. What we found is a mixed bag – there was some progress, but gaps and barriers remain,” said Melanie Dolechek, Executive Director, Society for Scholarly Publisher and C4DISC Steering Committee Member. Four high-level themes emerged from a trove of substantive findings.

1. “Recognition of employer commitments to diversity and employee satisfaction have increased since 2018.”
2. Not everyone experiences tangible improvements in workplace culture and workplace equity efforts
3. Key focus areas for improving equity include mentorship and networking opportunities, promotion structures and processes, and supporting employees who return from career breaks