Our nation is truly a melting pot.
Can you say the same for your company?
A good question to consider: How much diversity in the workplace do you see when you consider your employees? Diversity in the workplace not only offers employees unique experiences to work with others, but it also improves financial performance and overall fund returns for companies, according to Harvard research.
Figures from the most recent Census show the nation’s population is diversifying even faster than initially predicted. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2060, nearly 60% of the U.S. population will be racially ethnic minorities.
If you’re interested in improving your company culture and employee experience, looking at ways to diversify your workforce is a step in the right direction.
Below, learn about the biggest benefits of diversity to your workers and company and how to incorporate diversity in the workplace.
5 Ways to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
What does diversity mean when it comes to the workplace?
Defined by the Global Diversity Practice, diversity is defined as “any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another.” It’s what makes others different and unique — whether it’s their education, national origin, disability, religion, ethnicity, gender, or age.
Ready to start reaping the benefits of having a diverse workforce?
Know that it will take time to genuinely make it a part of your workplace culture. For starters, understand that it takes strategic action on the part of leadership to make it happen. Below are some strategies worth starting with now.
Some ways to incorporate diversity at work:
1. Offer D&I Awareness Training
This isn’t just an HR topic. All hiring managers should be fully trained in dealing with real-life scenarios surrounding diversity and inclusion— like knowing how to make appropriate accommodations for someone with autism, for example. For further strategy ideas, consider creating an inclusion counsel that is involved in creating goals for new hires and retaining diverse workers.
2. Diversify Job Descriptions
This is the first introduction many prospective employees have to your company. Look at the ways your company is being presented from the duties of the job to the about section. Ask focus groups to read the job descriptions to offer feedback that can strengthen the variety of applicants.
3. Try a Blind CV Process
One of the easiest ways to get a diverse amount of applicants in the door is to do a blind hiring process. This includes taking away identifiable characteristics unrelated to the job — like a candidate’s age, gender, or race — to ensure there’s zero information that isn’t related to the candidate’s working abilities.
4. Acknowledge All Cultural Holidays
There are “banker’s holidays” which almost every company takes off — Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. But what about the lesser-known ones? The ones that matter to your employees should be considered as well. Consider how employees may need time off for various religious endeavors and/or cultural holidays.
5. Create Professional Support Programs
Help workers feel included by offering professional groups that offer them the support they need to succeed. Offering opportunities for job coaching, speaking engagements, workshops, associations, etc. Networking events are another way to encourage different departments — and different groups of people — to work together. Diversity isn’t just about ethnic backgrounds; it is also about the skills and experiences people bring to the table. Allow others to learn from those experiences by bringing those folks together often.
Above all, communicate frequently about DEI in your workplace. When you can, share and promote resources, and articles around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Share insights into how your company is building a culture around DEI and how it benefits workers.
Related: 2 Experts Weigh in On Inclusive Wellness in Diverse Workplaces
Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace
Everyone has a variety of unique traits that they bring to the workforce. It’s how your company honors, respects, and incorporates those differences that create a harmonic and diverse workforce.
Since workers come from all different backgrounds, experiences, and often have varied religious or cultural experiences, it can be powerful to intertwine a variety of workers to learn from one another and respect one another’s differences.
Plus, there are big benefits to being authentically diverse:
Increases Talent Retention
Keeping top talent is no easy feat. But if you create a workplace where all workers feel included and comfortable enough to stay, they will. Research performed by Great Place to Work reported employees working in a diverse and inclusive company culture are 5.4 times as likely to stay for the long haul.
Increases Profits
A 2019 McKinsey research analysis found that companies in the top quartile for executive teams with gender diversity were 25 percent more likely to have above-average profitability. The research also found that the greater the representation, the higher the chances of outperformance.
Employee Satisfaction
Every company with wise leadership wants to see employees happy. Workers who know their leaders will treat them and their colleagues the same no matter their differences tend to enjoy their jobs more.
Ability to Fix Mistakes Sooner
The more diverse your team, the more likely they’ll be able to take note of mistakes in the workplace and correct them quickly, according to Deloitte research. Tackling mistakes from the get-go makes problems much easier to handle the earlier they’re caught.
Snag New Markets
Because our world is full of a variety of people with different cultures, religions, backgrounds, etc., you need a diverse workforce that can relate to all the markets your company serves or wants to serve. When your customer base feels they have a company’s full understanding of what they need, business transactions are often smoother.
Here are some other benefits to note from the Global Diversity Practice:
- 87% of the time, teams with diverse age, gender, and ethnic backgrounds make better business decisions
- 33% of businesses outperform competitors when they have a mix of ethnic backgrounds
- 21% of businesses are more likely to outperform their competitors when they have a healthy balance of men and women in the workplace
The power of diversity — as well as inclusion — can’t be understated. When your company incorporates policies that are in-depth, authentic, and supportive, your workplace will be even more engaged and collaborative.
Create Opportunity for Diversity at Your Company
The numbers don’t lie: Our nation is becoming diverse rather quickly. Do you have an opportunity in your workplace to welcome that diversity? If not, you’re missing out on major opportunities that benefit your employees and your company.
It comes down to helping your employees feel as though they are welcome for their differences. Think about the ways your company can improve representation as a whole and how current employees and leaders can work together to make that happen.
Check out various national organizations for resources, too. Here are some to consider sharing with your employees and company leadership:
- Career One Stop’s Transition Center — Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this site offers vets job training, financial help, and other employment insights to keep former military hiring rates up.
- Ability Jobs — Ability Jobs connects the disabled to employers who are interested in building diversity and learning about how to hire disabled individuals.
- Business Professional Women's Foundation (BPW) — Women are often underrepresented in C-suite roles in the business world. This site focuses on the advancement of working women.
The biggest changes happen when your company leadership sets up strategic plans committed to the DEI initiatives that will make a difference. What will your plan be this year to strengthen your DEI policies and initiatives?
How does your company foster diversity in the workplace? Share your comments and thoughts down below!
