Employees working in less inclusive organisations are six times more likely to plan to leave within the next year, according to new research highlighting the relationship between workplace culture, leadership and staff retention.
The State of Inclusion in the UK: How Culture is Driving Performance report, published by Onvero, found that employees in highly inclusive workplaces expect to remain with their employer for an average of 7.2 years, compared with just 4.3 years in organisations rated as not at all inclusive.
The research also identified a significant gap between employers’ cultural ambitions and employees’ everyday experiences.
While 67% of organisations have a defined culture strategy, only 22% of employees describe their workplace as highly inclusive. Furthermore, just 32% of organisations report that their culture strategy is fully embedded throughout the business.
Leadership emerged as a particularly important factor in employee retention. Some 40% of employees in workplaces with low inclusion scores cited poor leadership as a reason for leaving, compared with 19% in highly inclusive organisations.
Poor workplace culture was identified by 30% of employees in less inclusive environments, compared with 12% in highly inclusive workplaces, while lack of recognition was cited by 31% and 17% respectively.
The findings also highlighted the importance of psychological safety.
In workplaces rated as very psychologically safe, 85% of respondents felt valued and respected, compared with just 9% in environments rated as not at all safe.
Similarly, 85% of employees in psychologically safe workplaces were happy working for their organisation, compared with 10% in the least safe environments.
Sandi Wassmer, CEO of Onvero, said employers needed to reassess the importance of inclusive workplace cultures to avoid damaging talent retention and business performance.
“Culture takes shape in everyday interactions, from how managers respond to concerns to whether unacceptable behaviour is challenged,” she said.
For HR and EDI leaders working in the games industry, the findings underline the importance of translating inclusion strategies into practical management behaviours, ensuring employees feel respected, recognised and confident raising concerns.
The research was conducted in May 2026 among 2,007 UK employees and 300 business leaders and decision-makers, alongside insights from Onvero’s 2026 Inclusion Benchmark.
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