Over the past few years, companies in nearly every industry have had a difficult time hiring talent due to unprecedented changes. As organizations re-evaluate their talent acquisition strategies and find creative ways to attract new talent, cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace has become a priority. Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are essential for attracting and retaining talent, leading to business growth.
In this episode of our Back to Work podcast series, Regina Blair, Day & Zimmermann's Vice President of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion, and Joe McIntyre, our host, discuss how companies can cultivate an inclusive work environment to attract and retain a diverse workforce. They also discuss best practices for becoming an employer of choice among diverse communities.
Listen to our Podcast below:
It's Not Just a Trend
It's important to note that companies can be diverse but not inclusive. Inclusion is about making people feel safe, valued, and welcome to do their best work and have difficult conversations that allow them to walk away with a positive outcome. This is what companies need to strive for, and companies that truly understand Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will come out on top in this social evolution our country has been experiencing.
Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is not just about attracting minorities — it's about retaining them and being a workplace that values their contributions. It's also not just about checking a box to ensure your company is hitting its diversity quota or keeping up with a market trend. In order to genuinely create an inclusive work environment, employers need to build a strong culture of inclusivity that all people want to be a part of and feel comfortable and appreciated in.
Companies who hire for the right reasons will stand out and be noticed over time for their authenticity, and it will help them be competitive in the market. Employees will want to work for them and clients will want to work with them. But attracting diverse populations is just the beginning; organizations need to grow and develop every day to ensure their work environment is always an inclusive place where all employees can thrive.
How to Become an Employer of Choice
Throughout the podcast, Regina and Joe discuss why employers and hiring managers should be more open minded about the candidates they are looking to fill open positions with. They need to reconsider their job descriptions to make sure they aren't closing themselves off to diverse candidates who could be right for the job. As long as they challenge the assumptions they may have and utilize an inclusive mindset during the talent acquisition process, companies should have no problem attracting diverse talent.
Another way to attract new diverse talent is by leveraging the existing talent within your organization. Regina mentions that "at the end of the day, diversity attracts diversity." Because of this, employers should be encouraging their workers to refer their peers to join their company. It's also crucial to ask your diverse talent what you are doing right and what you can do better to ensure they are satisfied and know they are valued.
Organizations can also attract diverse employees by investing in partnerships that give your company more efficient access to diverse talent pools and help you promote inclusivity. These investments will help you attract new candidates while also helping you retain existing diverse talent, as they see that you're making an effort to grow and develop an inclusive culture. Having Employee Resource Groups for employees to join is also a great way to become an employer of choice.
Listen to our full podcast here for more information on how to build your brand as an employer of choice for diverse talent, then attract and retain them through growth and development.
