Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace normally happens organically. By recruiting and hiring the best candidates, your business will naturally attract a diverse group of employees.
If you feel like you might need a little help attracting and fostering internal growth opportunities for a more diverse workforce, though, you’ve come to the right place!
At Patel Consultants, we specialize in a wide range of Recruiting and Staffing Solutions. We have great candidates looking for great employers just like you. We can help you with all of your recruiting and staffing needs. Call us today at 908-964-7575.
HR professionals recognize and embrace the fact that having a more diverse workforce will help to create a better, more successful company. They realize they need to do more than just enforce policies and meet diversity quotas.
The HR department can be the leaders and change agents in their companies and organizations.
In this post, you will learn:
- What Is Diversity and Inclusion In the Workplace?
- Why Is It Important to Have Diverse Teams?
- Strategies for Increasing Diversity and Inclusion In Your Organization’s Workforce
- How To Ensure That Your Company Has a Strong Culture of Diversity and Inclusion
So what exactly is diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
Let’s start with a great definition from workforce satisfaction software company Great Place To WorkTM:
Diversity and inclusion are two interconnected concepts—but they are far from interchangeable. Diversity is about representation or the make-up of an entity. Inclusion is about how well the contributions, presence and perspectives of different groups of people are valued and integrated into an environment.
An environment where many different genders, races, nationalities, and sexual orientations and identities are present but only the perspectives of certain groups are valued or carry any authority or influence, may be diverse, but it is not inclusive.
There are many definitions for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, aka DEI. Some people might think diversity is simply about having different races, ethnicities, and genders represented in the workplace. But there’s more to it than just representation.
Most people agree that workplace DEI means creating an environment where everyone has equal opportunity, and everyone is treated equally.
Inclusion brings another dimension to the concept. Inclusion implies that everyone in the workforce, at every level, has an equal opportunity for advancement, promotion, contribution, and input.
From an HR perspective, DEI policies create an environment where these concepts are fostered and ensured at every organizational level.
Why is it important to have diverse teams?
More diversity on a team means that there is going to be more inclusivity, creativity, and innovation. Statistics show that your company is going to be much more productive, and employee retention rates will improve significantly with a more diverse workforce. That’s according to Glassdoor, and it’s music to the ears of HR professionals!
Diversity of opinions generally fosters better team problem-solving because most decisions are made by consensus rather than majority rule. It also increases the likelihood that a team will have diversity in perspectives, meaning there are more ways to solve problems.
The bottom line is that when employees across the board feel like they have a voice, as well as equal opportunities for career-enhancing promotions, they will work harder and be more positively motivated.
Strategies for increasing diversity and inclusion in your organization’s workforce.
So how do we make sure that we’re creating a diverse and inclusive work environment for our employees?
Communicate diversity and inclusion strategies and policies throughout all levels of the organization, including to senior and C-level leadership.
DEI programs can include a variety of approaches. Here are a few good ones to consider:
- Encourage and Foster Official Mentoring Relationships
- Encourage Internships for Underrepresented Groups
- Encourage Career and Leadership Programs for Underrepresented Groups
- Encourage Participation and Solicit Feedback from All Groups In Meetings, Activities, etc.
- Have Documented Policies for Employees to Pursue Promotions, Advancement, etc.
- Provide Diversity Training at All Organizational Levels
Don’t just talk about it! Show your team that every employee and staff member has equal value, an equal voice, and the same opportunities for advancement and growth.
How to ensure that your company has a strong culture of diversity and inclusion.
There is more to DEI than corporate policies and hiring goals. It needs to be part of the culture.
Diversity should be embraced as a core value in the company’s culture. People generally tend to get along. Create an environment, starting with leadership, that promotes and encourages a genuine atmosphere of inclusiveness.
When employees see senior, executive, and C-level staff personifying DEI concepts, they will naturally follow suit.
Contact Our Hiring Experts Today
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At Patel Consultants, we help clients just like you find that perfect candidate every day!
Call us today at 908-964-7575, or get in touch online. Our expert recruiters are waiting for your call.
