Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is not a new concept. But with the current political climate combined with recent events, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, it has become more critical than ever for employers to focus on diversity and inclusion in their workplaces.
Diversity hiring is about recruiting people from various social groups, including underrepresented groups. These can include (but aren’t limited to) women, minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
The goal of diversity hiring is to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the demographics of society.
What is the difference between diversity and inclusion?
The terms “diversity” and “inclusion” are often used interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Diversity refers to people’s other characteristics, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and age. Inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.
Knowing and understanding this difference is crucial to in-house recruiters. They are the face of the company and are tasked with attracting top talent from various backgrounds.
Why is diversity hiring crucial?
There are many reasons why diversity hiring is essential. For one, it helps to create a more well-rounded workforce. A diverse workforce brings different perspectives and ideas to the table, which leads to better decision-making and problem-solving.
Diversity hiring is also important from a legal standpoint. In some countries, such as the United States, employers are legally required not to discriminate against certain people in their hiring practices. This includes things like race, religion, and gender.
Finally, diversity hiring is important because it shows that your company values employees from all walks of life. This can be demonstrated by the various diversity and inclusion workshops that you offer for in-house recruiters. In fact, having an online course catalog that includes a course on diversity and inclusion in hiring is one way to show that your company is committed to this issue.
Attracting top talent from multiple backgrounds will only help improve your company; in-house recruitment can be an excellent way to accomplish this goal.
Providing your team with the right training can lead to your company making better hires if you do have people responsible for this.
What are some ideas for recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds?
There are a few different ways that you can go about recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds.
One way is to use online job boards that cater to specific groups of people. For example, there are job boards for women, minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. By posting your job on these types of sites, you’ll be more likely to reach candidates from various backgrounds.
Another way to find diverse candidates is to partner with organisations that focus on diversity and inclusion. These organisations can help connect you with qualified candidates from underrepresented groups. Understanding what kind of diversity and inclusion workshops such organisations offer can also give you an idea of what type of programming to provide to your in-house recruiters.
Finally, you can use social media to reach out to potential candidates from diverse backgrounds. For example, you can use hashtags like #diversityhire or #inclusionmatters to find individuals interested in working for a company that values diversity.
What are some ideas for creating a more inclusive workplace?
There are many approaches for creating a more inclusive workplace.
One way is to provide training on diversity and inclusion for all employees. This training can help employees understand the importance of diversity and create an inclusive environment, by focusing on unconscious bias, microaggressions, and cultural competence. It’s important to make sure that the training is interactive and engaging so that employees can get the most out of it.
Another way to create a more inclusive workplace is to offer mentorship programs for employees from underrepresented groups. These programs can help employees feel supported in their career development and provide role models to look up to.
Finally, you can create employee resource groups (ERGs) for employees from specific groups. These ERGs can provide a space for employees to come together and discuss issues related to their identity. They can also plan events and programs that raise awareness about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential in attracting and retaining the best talent. You can create an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued by following these tips.
Evaluating your existing diversity and inclusion strategy
Running various diversity and inclusion workshops can also uncover areas of improvement in your organisation. You can use the following tips to help you evaluate your existing diversity and inclusion strategy:
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Create a survey for employees to fill out anonymously about their experiences with diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This survey should include questions about whether employees feel comfortable discussing issues related to diversity and inclusion, whether they have experienced any type of discrimination or exclusion at work, and what they think could be done to improve the situation.
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Analyze your company’s data on employee demographics, turnover rates, and promotion rates. This data can help you identify any disparities that exist within your organisation.
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Conduct focus groups with employees from underrepresented groups. These focus groups can provide insights into employees’ experiences who may not feel comfortable speaking up in other forums.
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Review your organisation’s policies and procedures related to diversity and inclusion. Make sure that these policies are clear and enforceable.
Conclusion
Diversity and inclusion are essential topics that should be given ongoing attention in the workplace. By evaluating your existing strategy, you can identify areas of improvement and make changes to create a more inclusive environment for all employees.
Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is essential in attracting and retaining the best talent. Knowing the various services that the right in-house recruits can provide you with is the first step in ensuring your workplace is one that potential top talent wants to work in. You can create an environment in which everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued when they come to work—every single day.
Partner
Inspired Human creates world-class workplaces and builds brands that employees and customers love through transformative diversity and inclusion programmes and workshops. We help leaders and managers become inclusive leaders that employees and customers love through inspiring workshops designed by an internationally acclaimed best-selling author and TEDx speaker who was nominated in the top 50 UK tech women.
