Abstract
This study examined the impact of sociodemographic factors: gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, tenure, disability status, social category, and hierarchical level on workplace inclusion, employee engagement, retention, and performance in India’s IT sector. Adopting a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 247 employees using a stratified random sampling technique to ensure representation across demographic groups and organizational levels. Standardized, validated scales were employed to measure workplace inclusion, engagement, retention (burnout, loyalty, turnover intentions), and performance. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in inclusion, engagement, loyalty, and performance across hierarchical levels, with leadership roles reporting higher scores and entry-level employees experiencing greater burnout and turnover intentions. Sexual orientation also emerged as a significant factor, with homosexual/bisexual employees reporting lower inclusion and engagement, though no meaningful differences were observed in retention or performance. Multiple regression further showed that age, gender, tenure, hierarchy, and sexual orientation significantly predicted workplace outcomes, with the exception of performance, which was not explained by demographic characteristics. These findings provide evidence that structural position, career stage, and minority identity strongly influence workplace experiences in the Indian IT industry. They highlight the need for organizations to design targeted interventions such as mentorship programs, leadership development initiatives, and diversity policies that address disparities and promote psychological safety, equity, and engagement. By integrating inclusion and retention strategies into organizational practices, IT firms, HR managers, and policymakers can strengthen employee well-being, improve retention, and enhance overall organizational performance.
Keywords: Employee Engagement, Employee Performance, Hierarchical Levels, Indian IT Sector, Workplace Inclusion.