Only two in 10 employers have internal groups dedicated to diversity, according to a recent poll from the Society for Human Resource Management.

Human resources departments also serve an important role in encouraging diversity, regardless of whether employers rely on internal groups. In fact, 65 percent of respondents report their respective human resources department is responsible for implementing diversity initiatives, and 62 percent say the human resources department is responsible for leading diversity initiatives. The top executive level, such as a president or CEO, is the second most cited group that is in charge of implementing and leading diversity initiatives, at 21 percent.

"While internal diversity councils aren't the only way that an organization can move the needle around diversity and inclusion, these results are an indication of how few organizations are responding to the world's rapidly changing demographics in a proactive and meaningful way," says Eric Peterson, manager of diversity and inclusion at SHRM. "Clearly, we still have a lot of work to do."