share

85% of employers say that increasing diversity in the workplace is a priority. That said, there’s a lot of work still to be done when it comes to diversity in hiring processes across the board. 45% of the same employers surveyed said they had no way of measuring the diversity of their workforce. 

6 Ways to Advocate Company Diversity Through Your Recruitment System

According to a study by Robert Walters, 85% of employers say that developing company diversity is becoming a pri...

When your organisation puts inclusivity at the heart of your recruitment, there’s many rewards that can be reaped. Let’s look at some of the benefits of building your workforce from a larger and more diverse talent pool.

Your people will be happier 

When employees feel like they’re valued and treated equally they’re more likely to be happier at work. If your team members are accepted for who they are regardless of age, gender, ethnic background or sexual orientation then they’ll inevitably feel more secure in the workplace.

It’ll come as no surprise that a happier workforce is more productive. Research carried out by Gartner has found that a diverse workforce performance improves by 12%. Your business will also benefit from people staying onboard. The same study concluded that a diverse workforce results in a 20% increase in staff retention.  

Customers are happier too

It’s highly likely that your customers and clients come from a wide variety of backgrounds. It’s important that your employees are able to understand and cater to the needs of all members of society. A diverse workforce is better equipped to ensure that your organisation has the best foot forward when it comes to being accessible for all customers. 

Statistics show 71% of consumers prefer buying from companies that are aligned with their values. Simply put, consumers want to see exactly how your business is ensuring your workplace is diverse and inclusive. 

Your Customers Want To Know The Progress You’ve Made In Diversity, Inclu...

Sonia Thompson

The customers you serve, want you to go beyond making statements about your commitment, to proving it.

Teams are more creative

When people from different backgrounds and choices work together it brings about the opportunity for sparking new, fresh ideas through collaboration. If we all agreed on everything then not only would the world be a very boring place, but innovative and creative solutions would never be found. 

Creating a workforce in which individuality and uniqueness is celebrated can bring about optimal teamwork, problem solving and creativity. 

It’s good for your bottom line

Businesses that prioritise gender diversity are 21% more likely to experience above average profits. Those that have more ethnically and culturally diverse people working at board level see a 43% increase in the likelihood of having above average profits. 

With studies also showing that diverse teams make better decisions a whopping 87% of the time, it’s clear that an inclusive workplace not only improves your company culture but also your bank balance. 

Diversity is good for your employer brand

In today’s job market, people are looking for more than just a job that pays the bills. They want to work with a business they’re proud to be part of. As well as growth opportunities and flexibility, job seekers are looking to join workplaces that prioritise social responsibility, diversity and inclusion. 

In fact, research has found that 64% of Millennials won’t take a job if their employee doesn’t have a strong CSR policy. Staying with the statistics, another study shows that 76% of job seekers list diversity as an important deciding factor when it comes to sizing up a potential employer. 

Do you want to have a reputation as an organisation that doesn’t prioritise diversity, equality and inclusion? It’s vitally important to the success of your business that you don’t push away talent. 

How do you diversify your recruitment? 

Now that the benefits of diversity in the hiring process are clear, what can your business do to take a more inclusive approach to your recruitment? There are a few good places you can start:

• Consider the language you use in your job advertisements to ensure they appeal to a broad range of people.
• Work on your employer brand to ensure your inclusive values come across.
• Create policies that are attractive to a diverse range of candidates. 
• Ensure your advertising on channels and platforms that can reach a wider and diverse talent pool. 
• Don’t hire based on cultural fit, instead think of what candidates can culturally add to your organisation. 

At Alexander Ash, we’re on hand to help our clients hire more inclusively. This ethos is carried across to our own hiring processes and we’re proud of the wide variety of different individuals we call our people. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do as a business. If you want to find out more about working with our team, contact us today.