The St. Gallen Inclusion Index is a tool for measuring inclusion in the workplace. It was developed in 2020 in a collaboration between the Swiss Federal Bureau for the Equality of People with Disabilities (EBGB), the CDI-HSG (now part of the CCDI), and MindStep AG (now part of Helsana HMS). The aim of the index is to measure four central dimensions of inclusion: authenticity, belongingness, diversity of perspectives, and equal opportunities. Authenticity captures the extent to which employees feel they can be themselves and appear authentically at work. Belongingness measures the extent to which employees feel part of their team. Diversity of perspectives refers to the ability of all employees to freely contribute their opinions and ideas. Equal opportunities assesses whether fair opportunities exist for all employees within the company.
After initial validation in various organisations, such as the city of Bern and Helsana, the index was integrated into further research and practice-based projects, including a large-scale study with BARMER health insurance. The results show that employees often rate their sense of belonging and authenticity positively, while equal opportunities tend to receive significantly lower ratings. Women and people with disabilities, in particular, continue to report experiences of discrimination in this area.
The Inclusion Check was developed in collaboration with Helsana HMS to support companies in systematically measuring and tracking inclusion. This is an automated online survey based on the St. Gallen Inclusion Index, enabling organisations and departments to analyse perceptions of inclusion and compare their results with representative benchmark data. In addition to anonymised evaluations at the company level, participants also receive individual feedback on their experiences of inclusion, as well as concrete recommendations for fostering an inclusive work environment.