The past several years have brought many prominent social issues to the forefront of discussion — forcing us to analyze how modern businesses operate. And with the rekindling of the Black Lives Matter movement and spotlight on systemic racism’s continued presence in society, the need for creating a more diverse workplace is more important than ever.
See, this is more than an outward gesture, but can impact a company’s bottom line. Professionals in a diverse and equal workplace are more engaged, attract talent and can spur higher profitability and creativity.
From requiring in-house discrimination and harassment training to making a commitment to building a fairer workforce, here are three effective ways companies are working to create a more diverse and equal workplace.
Lip service and public announcements are nice, but putting those promises into action is where it really matters. Provide a safe space for employees to communicate their feedback or experiences. Establish regular seminars or programs that educate workers on how to be an ally or support their colleagues in the office. Many platforms, including LinkedIn, have free courses and materials to help instill inclusivity as part of the company culture.
Constructive feedback isn’t always easy to receive. But it’s imperative that workers feel safe to not only share their input, but see that it’s being taken seriously. Actionable steps like making donations to organizations is a laudable, effective gesture of showing your company’s commitment to a more diverse workplace. However, smaller strides can be just as impactful. Simply being transparent with how you plan to address any raised issues will go a long way.
Probably the strongest and most important method to moving your company in a more diverse direction: the hiring process. Everything from the word choices in job postings to the type of interview questions asked can result in biased hires. “Blind” resume reviews that eliminate the name, sex or any other identifying factors can help eliminate this. As well as establishing standardized questions and including other employees in the interview process with different perspectives.
For more hiring insights and trends, check out our blog!
