Ways to Foster Diversity & Inclusivity in the Workplace
Diversity includes an individual’s skills, physical abilities, gender, race, religion, age, and socioeconomic status and extends to anything different or unique. Inclusion is when those differences are valued and supported, providing a safe, welcoming environment with equal access to opportunities and resources.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusivity in the workplace requires a conscious effort to build a strong sense of belonging for all employees. The most effective way to bring about meaningful change is to be proactive, starting with your company’s core values, culture, and hiring process.
Diversity-building is a continuous process that includes:
Conducting a comprehensive assessment to evaluate your workforce and executive team demographics to identify diversity gaps and benchmarks.
Leveraging data collected to create actionable change.
Communicating goals and measuring progress.
Educating leadership and holding them accountable for results; and
Celebrating and accommodating employee differences.
Statistics show there is a growing demand for diverse, inclusive workplaces. The 2020 Census revealed millennials (26-41 Years/21.8% of the population) are one of the most diverse generations in history, with 56% of the 87 million millennials in the United States being white compared to 72% of the 76 million baby boomers (68 to 76 Years/21.45% of the population). As a result, the nation’s population and, therefore, the workforce are becoming increasingly diverse. For example, between 1980 and 2020, the number of minority workers doubled while the white working-age population declined from 84% of the workforce to 63% due mainly to a large number of baby boomers retiring and the younger people (under 44 years of age) being more diverse. Surveys have shown that diversity and inclusion are not only a preference but a requirement for young professionals.
Companies that make diversity and inclusion central to who they recruit, hire, and promote are proven to be safer and more productive. They have higher employee satisfaction and retention rates and find recruiting candidates easier because jobseekers feel they will be accepted, respected, and comfortable being themselves. In addition, companies with substantial diversity and inclusion programs attract top talent to help drive innovation, results, and profits.
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At Professions, we foster a culture where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to achieve individual and collective goals. We are a nationwide recruiting firm specializing in Engineering, Banking, Automotive, Manufacturing, and Packaging. We want to connect with you if you are seeking a highly-skilled team member or a team leader in your industry. Call 513-530-0909 or Email Us.