“When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become a wiser, more inclusive, and better organization.” — Pat Wadors, Head of HR at LinkedIn
The importance of diversity, equality, unity and inclusivity has never been clearer to see. It is almost impossible to open a website or newspaper without seeing images of protesters calling for a greater focus on fairness in every aspect of society.
This means, of course, that ensuring equality in the workplace and hiring process is absolutely vital. However, giving people the same opportunity to succeed is not only preferable and entirely reasonable; it can also provide businesses with an array of benefits.
Let’s break it down.
1. Enhanced Levels of Productivity
Research has quite conclusively claimed that ‘cultural diversity’ in the workplace can have a massive impact when it comes to productivity. In a pioneering study by Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano and Giovanni Peri, which is still regarded as a landmark in cultural research to this day, the results found that those companies which actively seek to recruit from an array of backgrounds, sectors and locations achieve far greater results than those that do not.
2. Far Greater Creativity
This one makes a lot of sense. If you ask people who have different backgrounds, have been educated in different establishments and have different life experiences, it is almost certain that they will have a different creative process. This means that levels of innovation will also likely improve and unique solutions will be found to challenges when they arise. This article written in Forbes Magazine highlights this point very well.
3. Increased Company Profits
It is perhaps unsurprising that greater levels of productivity and creativity will ultimately lead to improved profit levels. However, while it is possible for us to insinuate this, it is far better to rely on research. A comprehensive survey conducted by the Center for Talent Innovation in the US came to the conclusion that those organisations with a diverse senior management team are far more likely – 15 per cent, in fact – to improve their business’ profit margins years on year.
Conclusion
Instilling the core values of equality and inclusivity into a business is more than just a moral imperative; it can actively encourage your business to improve the way it operates, ensure that it thrives going forward, and can give you a significant advantage over your competitors. To achieve these goals, it is quite clear that the hiring process must be set up so as to encourage applicants from all walks of life, and also must ensure that no bias – be it subconscious or conscious – can come into play.
Discover what we can offer at Jobseekrs to help employers find a new and effective way of recruiting.
