questionnaire asks about diversity in our workforce, how do I approach this
Usually they ask for figures, not policy
Diversity questions in these lists almost always fall into two categories: hard distribution figures and policy questions. The first category is the male-female distribution within the workforce, often broken down by total, management and board of directors — these are the figures you pull from your HR system without discussion. The second category asks whether there is a policy: a diversity or inclusion policy, target figures, or measures against discrimination. You often haven't formally documented the latter, even though it does happen in practice.
If you don't have a documented policy, then "no" is the factually correct answer — not something to supplement with what you do informally, because the dossier has no source for that. Some lists also ask about diversity among suppliers or procurements; that touches on chain policy rather than your own workforce, and don't confuse the two in your answer. If the question is close to working conditions in a broader sense, then whether the staff is covered by a collective labour agreement often also comes into play, because collective labour agreements sometimes already contain equal treatment provisions that serve as substantiation.
Where this comes from: VSME basic module
The VSME basic module of EFRAG mentions the male-female distribution of staff as a standard social indicator for unlisted SMEs; that is the direct source for most diversity questions in these lists. Directive (EU) 2022/2464, the CSRD, is the underlying reason why larger customers collect this data from their chain at all: they must themselves report on social indicators of their suppliers, and that obligation is translated into the questionnaire that lands with you.
What this is based on
- EFRAG VSME — the voluntary standard for non-listed SMEs, basic module
- Directive (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD)
The regulation itself is on EUR-Lex. We refer for each claim; you do not have to take our word for it.
What you concretely need to do
The implementation of each obligation, with the deadlines involved and the templates for recording it, is included in the subscription.
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Written with AI based on the sources above, checked by a human on 2026-09-05. Is something incorrect? Let us know — corrections receive priority.