Diversity, in a nutshell, is what makes groups of people different. There are many ways we differentiate from each other but generally speaking, it can be divided into key categories, including sex, race, age, religious beliefs, disabilities, nationality, sexuality, etc. Diversity is important in a workplace, as people with different experiences bring together different points of view and experiences. When we come together with people from other backgrounds, we can learn more about the world and even change our perception of things. For a business, diversity brings fresh ideas to the table and it can help improve business prospects. For instance, if you have employees that speak a variety of languages, you have the potential to open up your business to a more global audience.
Diversity and Inclusion in Action
Some of the most diverse Fortune 500 companies , include Microsoft, Nike, Visa, and Gap. Statistics have revealed that 39.7% of the board of Microsoft consists of racial and ethnic minorities. The workforce is made up of 49.8% racial or ethnic majorities. Diversity and inclusion can be difficult to achieve, especially for SMEs. However, there are ways to achieve diversity, even in a small organisation. Simply offering flexible working, for example, can help you attract people that have childcare responsibilities, mental or physical health problems, and depending on the working hours, even students.
Measuring Diversity
It is one thing to take steps to improve diversity in the workplace, but how do you measure it and ensure you are on track with achieving your diversity goals? It’s all about data when it comes to understanding diversity. Analysing data on the age groups, race, sex of your new hires will help you to get a picture of where you are and what you want to achieve. You should also measure retention, as if you have high employee turnover and you’re losing a particular age group quickly, for example, it is time to find out why. It is also important to incorporate employee feedback into your plan for measuring diversity. You can create and issue employee surveys, for example, to find out how employees feel about working in your organisation, and whether they feel like they belong in the company. It will give you an understanding of how diversity and inclusion are within your organisation.
Achieving Diversity
If you measure diversity in the workplace and it doesn’t make for pleasant reading, it may be time to make some changes. Some ways to improve diversity in the workplace, include targeted recruitment at specific groups of people. For example, if you want to attract younger age groups, you might want to use social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, or you may want to advertise in Universities. Targeted recruitment can be hugely beneficial for improving workplace diversity. Alternating your interview panel can also help improve diversity. It is natural to gravitate toward people that are similar to yourself, and by changing your interviewers, you can help improve the diversity in your hiring decisions.
If you would like to discuss diversity in the workplace or have any other questions regarding HR support for business, you can contact us for an initial chat at info@bluetreehr.uk or 07516 335419 .
