Diversity Hiring: How to Create an Inclusive Workplace
What is Diversity and Inclusion in Hiring?
Diversity and inclusion in hiring means building a workforce of varied backgrounds and traits. It involves actively sourcing, considering, and hiring qualified candidates regardless of race, gender, age, religion, disability status, or other characteristics through equitable, unbiased practices.
Today’s changing workforce demands that companies prioritize workplace diversity. Practicing diversity hiring is not only about equality. It’s also a smart move for any business that wants to attract fresh ideas, creativity, and engaged employees.
Focusing on diversity hiring can help your business succeed in today’s changing job market and stay ahead of the competition.
As of 2021, the U.S. workforce is mostly white, accounting for 77% of the total employee count. Hispanics and Latinos make up 18% of the workforce. Black employees make up 13% and Asian employees make up 7%.
These statistics are helping businesses worldwide to recognize the importance of diversity hiring and the creation of inclusive workplaces.
It is crucial for companies and recruiters to understand the advantages of a diverse workforce, which goes beyond appearances and image. It is a key practice for successful recruitment strategies.
What is Diversity Hiring?
Diversity hiring means going beyond the usual places you recruit from and making a real effort to find people from different backgrounds to fill your open positions.
When employees feel like they belong and are respected for their unique contributions, they’re more likely to be happy and productive at work. This creates a positive work environment that benefits everyone.
7 Benefits of Embracing Workplace Diversity
Workplace diversity embraces employees of different races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, sexual orientation, and abilities as valued members of the team. When your company brings together team members with diverse experiences, it creates a stronger workforce.
Although 43% of American employees are women, top-level and C-suite positions are only held by 1 in 4 women, according to a 2023 US DOL 2023 report. Of those women in executive positions, only 5% were women of color. These statistics spotlight the need for companies to focus on diversity and inclusion.
EmployTest is committed to supporting your business build a more diverse workplace. We understand the positive impact workplace diversity can have on your company. You can benefit from the following by prioritizing diversity hiring:
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- Attract a Wider Talent Pool: By actively recruiting diverse candidates, organizations can tap into a broader range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. This can lead to the discovery of hidden gems and the creation of a more well-rounded and innovative workforce.
- Promote Innovation and Creativity: A diverse workforce brings together individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. This diversity of thought can foster a culture of creativity and innovation, as employees are exposed to new ideas and approaches.
- Boost Employee Retention: A diverse and inclusive workplace where employees feel respected, valued, and supported is more likely to retain top talent. Employees are more engaged, motivated, and loyal when they feel like they belong.
- Improve Brand Image: Prioritizing diversity and inclusion can enhance an organization’s brand image and reputation. It demonstrates a commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, which can attract both customers and employees.
- Increase Bottom Line: Studies have shown that companies with diverse workforces are more likely to experience increased financial returns. According to a report by Forbes, companies with a diverse workforce are 35% more likely to have higher profitability.
- Leadership Diversity Matters: Diverse leadership teams lead to better problem-solving, innovation, decision-making, employee engagement, and employer branding by bringing in a range of perspectives and experiences. According to a recent McKinsey study, companies with more gender diversity generate 21% higher profits and 27% more value.
- Understanding Customers: A diverse workforce promotes cultural competence, enables tailored product offerings, improves customer service, facilitates market expansion, and builds customer trust.
Your company can open its doors to new perspectives by launching workplace diversity hiring practices. When you concentrate your recruitment strategies on diversity hiring practices, you create a better culture, build a stronger sense of community, enhance your company’s image, and experience financial rewards.
8 Tips for Improving Diversity Hiring Practices
It’s important for your team to establish strategic workplace diversity hiring practices to make your company more inclusive. Here are some top tips for enhancing your diversity hiring strategies:
Set Goals for Diversity in Your Recruitment Strategy
Start by assessing your current employees and identifying underrepresented groups such as women, minorities, and people with disabilities. Set specific, measurable goals to increase the representation of these groups, and develop targeted hiring strategies.
Use Diverse Recruitment Platforms
Expand your current recruitment efforts beyond your standard platforms and consider posting on diversity-focused job boards like Diversity.com or the Professional Diversity Network to help you connect with a broader range of talent.
Use Inclusive Language
Review and edit your current hiring language to ensure it is inclusive and welcoming. By using inclusive language, you show potential employees that they are valued and respected within your company.
For example, you could include text like this within your job posting: Our company is seeking a talented IT manager for a growing IT department. Candidates should come with experience developing in .NET and have knowledge working with Windows servers.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Our company believes in fostering a collaborative work environment where everyone’s perspectives are valued and respected.
Reduce Unconscious Bias in the Hiring Process
Implement structured interviews with standardized assessments and use a diverse panel of interviewers. Using standardized testing as part of your diversity hiring strategy ensures all candidates will be considered equally.
Offer Internships to Targeted Groups
Create internship programs aimed at underrepresented groups and students. Reach out to your local colleges and universities to offer internship programs. Many have access to on-campus minority groups, like the Office of Institutional Diversity, Multicultural Student Life Organization, or similar departments.
Incorporate Blind Hiring Practices
Use blind resume screenings and anonymous applications that remove identifying information like name, ethnicity, or gender. Focus on skills and qualifications that can be demonstrated and measured, evaluating candidates based on merit alone.
Implement Anti-Discrimination Policies
Establish clear anti-discrimination policies and procedures that prohibit discrimination based on background, gender, or ethnicity. Communicate these policies with every employee and applicant.
Provide Diversity Training for Everyone
Offer diversity and inclusion training programs for all employees. Diversity training raises awareness, cultivating an inclusive workplace where unique perspectives are valued.
Implementing these tips can help improve your workplace diversity hiring practices and create a space that welcomes inclusivity. Celebrating diversity contributes to a richer, more successful workforce with a wide range of creativity and problem-solving perspectives.
Commit to Creating an Inclusive Workplace
Despite recent efforts towards workplace diversity, a 2020 Gallup poll reported that 24% of both Black and Hispanic or Latino employees experienced some form of workplace discrimination. Simply focusing your efforts on diversity hiring is not enough.
It’s about creating a workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and included. Encourage open communication, celebrate diverse perspectives, and establish a culture of empathy and understanding to build an inclusive workplace.
Create programs within your company that allow employees with similar backgrounds to share their experiences, which gives opportunities for coworkers with shared identities to support each other.
Finally, plan time to work with your human resources department to start committees that actively build initiatives that promote equality and inclusivity.
Hiring Diverse Talent Now Matters
In today’s competitive business world, the key to your company’s long-term success lies in embracing workplace diversity. You not only build a more inclusive environment but uncover a wealth of innovation by seeking diverse talent.
At EmployTest, our mission is to help recruiters and businesses like yours harness the power of diversity. We provide valuable resources such as skills assessment tests that help reduce bias in your diversity hiring practices.
Let us help you build an inclusive workplace that drives success, through skills testing of job applicants. We offer strategic insights, actionable tips, best practices, and useful tools to attract top talent, retain current employees, and foster diversity within your organization.
Together, we can build diversity hiring practices that create a space where everyone contributes to your company’s success.