Suppose you're looking to build a strong employer brand and assemble a workforce that will drive your organisation to new levels of profitability and success. In that case, you need to focus on diversity and inclusion.
Research has shown that having a broad and equal representation of genders, ages, ethnicities, nationalities and professional backgrounds in your business can make you more innovative, financially successful and attractive to talented job seekers.
If you're keen to move forward in your diversity journey but are unsure how to take the following steps, we can offer the insights and expertise you need to optimise your hiring and engage with a wide range of candidates.
In a Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study involving more than 1,700 companies in eight countries, organisations with above-average diversity at the management level reported innovation revenue that was 19 percentage points higher than that of firms with less-diverse management teams. Innovation revenue was measured based on income from new products and services launched in the three years following the survey.
BCG pointed out that people from different backgrounds can look at the same problem and come up with entirely different solutions. When you have a diverse workforce, you're more adaptable and likely to generate solutions that work.
McKinsey has provided similar insights into how diverse teams fuel better business performance in a series of studies, the latest of which was published in May 2020. It showed that companies with the most gender-diverse executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than those that lagged in this area.
Organisations in the top quartile for ethnic and cultural diversity outperformed those in the bottom quartile by 36% in profitability.
attracting and retaining talent
Business success or failure depends on many factors, but one of the most important is your people. Suppose you have a talented workforce dedicated to helping the company succeed. In that case, you can feel confident that you're in the best possible position to overcome obstacles and identify avenues for future growth. But acquiring the talent you need will become increasingly difficult if you're not committed to diversity.
Four out of five workers (80%) have said inclusion is a crucial factor when choosing an employer, according to research by Deloitte. In contrast, 72% would consider leaving an organisation for a more inclusive one.
This is a particularly significant issue for younger generations who represent the future of work. More than four out of five Gen Z candidates (83%) surveyed by Monster said a company's commitment to diversity is an important consideration when evaluating potential employers.
staying relevant and competitive
Modern employers need to recognise that workforce diversity is no longer a 'nice to have, or an indistinct goal to be achieved at some point in the future, but something that needs to be a top priority right now.
Engaging with this issue and working to drive progress on this front is essential if you want to build a compelling employer brand and show that you're in tune with the needs and interests of modern workers. This is particularly important if you want to avoid feeling the effects of worsening skills shortages.
Furthermore, failing to act could put you at risk of falling behind your competitors in the market for top talent. BCG's research revealed that 75% of respondents felt diversity was gaining momentum in their organisations.
Quicker progress has been reported in emerging markets such as China, Brazil and India. Similarly, in PwC's Global Diversity and Inclusion Survey, 76% of people said this was a stated value or a priority area for their employer.
Some of the world's most successful businesses have shown what can be achieved by committing to this issue. Accenture, for example, has featured on DiversityInc's list of the top 50 companies for diversity for 14 consecutive years, ranking fifth in 2020. The professional services firm says its dedication to its people and to "accelerating equality for all" enables it to "attract, develop, inspire and reward top talent".
Hotel chain Marriott International, which featured first on the latest DiversityInc list, says embracing differences is "essential" to its success. It's currently involved in initiatives including cross-cultural workshops, the Women's Leadership Development Initiative and training for female executives on corporate boards.
diversity in recruitment: how we can help
If you have workforce diversity goals that you're ready to start working towards but are unsure how to take the next step, we can help by optimising your recruitment.
data on what workers want
To appeal to the broadest possible range of applicants, you need to know what modern job seekers are looking for in a prospective employer.
For more than 20 years, we have been researching the things that matter to employees. This information can help you build a relevant and compelling employer brand, which is essential if you want to attract and retain diverse talent.
fresh perspectives on your recruitment process
If you want to hire diverse talent, it makes sense to have a wide range of voices and backgrounds on your recruitment team.
This will help you to build a more inclusive hiring process, based on the insights and experience of experts who can approach the task from a number of different angles.
Furthermore, having our consultants on your HR team will offer the benefit of a fresh, unbiased view of your recruitment methods, which will help you make the right changes to engage with a broader range of applicants.
Make sure you have a diverse team that's looking for diverse perspectives. That also helps the organisation be more relatable to diverse talent.
targeted recruitment
Another recommendation from our chief diversity and inclusion officer is to adopt a "hunting and gathering" mindset when you want to source and engage with a wide array of talent, rather than simply "posting and praying" that diverse candidates will come to you.
We can give you access to data and HR technologies to help you identify the best places to look for people who will improve your organisation. Recruiting from our network of vetted, proven talent can also give you peace of mind that anyone you hire has the skills and experience required to do the job to a high standard.
Our dedication to promoting diversity in the modern workforce has been highlighted by various local initiatives and partnerships we have formed with non-governmental organisations, regional governments and associations that help us find diverse talent. Examples include Without Borders, a program launched by Randstad Italy to employ migrants and refugees, and our collaboration with getting Skilled Access in Australia, which focuses on breaking down barriers to employment for people with disabilities.
Start a conversation with us today to learn more about how our experience and knowledge of this issue can help you put diversity at the forefront of your recruitment strategy.
Angela Anasis
executive general manager, hr consulting, talent solutions, randstad sourceright anz
Angela joined Randstad in 2006 and manages a team of 20 Client Solutions Account Managers who are responsible for strategic account management, implementation and business development of Randstad’s key accounts across the Asia Pacific region. With more than fourteen years of recruitment industry experience, including extensive operational and account management experience across numerous industry sectors such as government, public and private organisations, Angela has developed various innovative programs such as the implementation of flexible workforce solutions, temporary workforce transitioning, benchmarking etc.
