Employers are most concerned about preserving their reputation when it comes to diversity policies, a survey has found.

Law firm Pinsents asked 350 private and public sector companies to say what factors influenced their attitudes to equal opportunities and diversity. Three-quarters of respondents said they wanted to be seen as a good employer, while 80% cited the negative impact of a potential discrimination claim.

“No one was immune to brand or image,” said Ashley Norman, an employment partner at Pinsents.

Pinsents’ findings echo research from MORI which found that less than a third of people working in a firm with an equal opportunities policy have actually read it.