The Role of Diversity Climate in Thriving at Work

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Committee Chair

Kathy Ritchie

Committee Member

John Nadalin

Committee Member

Courtney Mckim

Abstract

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study aimed to examine the relationship between diversity climate and thriving at work for employees of organizations in the United States finance and insurance sector. The focus of the quantitative phase was determining if a positive relationship existed between diversity climate and thriving at work. The qualitative phase further explored how individuals experienced this relationship. The research showed a statistically significant positive relationship (r = 0.5432, p < 0.0001) between diversity climate and thriving at work and between the diversity climate facets of intention, programming, and praxis and thriving at work (r-values ranging from 0.3736 to 0.5701, p< 0.0001). The qualitative study yielded core themes of workplace diversity as a source of vitality and learning and a visible indicator of diversity climate, the importance of company pro-diversity actions, and the impact of leadership support and positive interactions with diverse employees. Based on these positive results and the demonstrated relationship between these two constructs, human resources and diversity management practitioners could focus on diversity climate items to increase the likelihood of diverse employees experiencing thriving at work.

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