A diverse workplace is more than just an ideal value that companies should uphold in today’s economy. In reality, a diverse workplace is essential to a company’s success because of the wide variety of skills, talents, and points of view it brings to the table. For example, according to an article in Harvard Business Review, companies with above-average diversity also have higher innovation revenues. Despite statistics such as this, however, many companies struggle to build a diverse workforce because they are unfamiliar with the practices necessary to make it a reality.
Today the U.S. economy boasts more than 6 million job openings and building a diverse workplace is more important than ever. Moreover, to make that possible, companies can use these practices.
Increase the Understanding of Diversity
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, diversity is the condition of having or being composed of different elements. In the workplace, most people apply this definition solely to gender and race and feel as long as they cover those bases they have done their job. True diversity in the workplace, however, means so much more. Diversity covers not only gender and race but also a wide range of talents, abilities and other characteristics that make employees unique.
For a workplace to achieve true diversity, hiring managers, the HR department, and staff needs to understand the bigger picture. Companies can implement education and training for their team on diversity to achieve a better understanding as a whole.
Restructure Hiring Practices
Laws according to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission create guidelines for companies to follow to create a diverse workplace. If companies are following these guidelines blindly without a correct understanding of diversity, however, they are not likely to be successful. To recruit talent of all levels and candidates of different abilities, race, gender, and background companies must structure their hiring practices accordingly.
Some strategies companies can use include creating a more inclusive job listing, widening the job screening process, and educating recruiters on how to identify diverse talent.
Offer Diverse Benefits
A traditional 401k, health insurance, ample vacation days, and the occasional gym membership are not enough to attract the diverse talent necessary to thrive in today’s economy. To attract and keep diverse talent, companies need to look at their benefits package and tailor it to their current and desired workforce.
Some suggestions for diverse benefits packages include on-site daycare, flexible work schedules, culturally diverse holidays, and a culturally acceptive dress code.
When a company successfully creates diversity in the workplace, they will begin to experience the benefits in their bottom-line and their company culture. These practices can help make that happen.