For a long time, diversity was a nice-to-have, but nowadays, it’s non-negotiable. The benefits are undeniable, with performance improvements probably being the number one factor.
However, cognitive diversity also drives innovation by up to 20 percent and boosts revenues. Besides, it’s crucial for attracting new talents as 67 percent of millennials and Gen-Z value inclusive values when considering employment opportunities.
If you still don’t find this data convincing enough, there is more to why you should diversify your recruitment.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Strive For Workplace Diversity
1. Greater Team Creativity
Creativity might be underappreciated, but it contributes to efficient brainstorming, innovative solutions, and mental agility. Yet, it’s hard to achieve it in a team of people who share the same backgrounds and, therefore, viewpoints.
Persons who share a similar perspective will likely generate similar ideas. But to think differently means to come up with something no one thought of before.
Hence, you should diversify your hiring process because you’ll gain access to a larger talent pool of qualified candidates and diverse mindsets.
2. Improved Employee Retention
People like to work in environments where they feel appreciated, valued, and welcome. Companies that fail to foster workplace diversity are at risk of struggling with unhappy employees who would rather be somewhere they can achieve success regardless of their demographic features.
If you celebrate diverse values, your workers will be likelier to stay with you for a long time as you provide a safe and respectful setting.
3. A Positive Company Reputation
Who wants to work with companies that disrespect their staff and judge them according to their race, gender, or ethnicity? The answer is probably no one because most customers aren’t eager to work with a xenophobic or racist organization.
On the other hand, commitment to building diverse workplace results in a positive company reputation.
4. Enhanced Cultural Awareness
Workplace diversity is a path to diverse perspectives and cultures that allow companies to understand various nuances they’ll encounter in the global marketplace. For instance, if an Anglo-Saxon organization collaborates with a Russian company, they’ll close sales faster if they have a Russian-speaking employee.
5. Employee Engagement Boost
Employee engagement is necessary for stellar performance and business success. Yet, it’s so challenging to achieve it.
Diversity makes people feel more welcome and included, making them more eager to immerse themselves in their work and go the extra mile. As a result, engagement receives the required boost and contributes to employee happiness.
Diversity and inclusion should no longer be a question but a must. However, it’s essential to understand how it benefits your business and employees as that’s the only way to diversify your hiring process because you want and not because it’s a requirement.