The Importance of Diversity in HR

 

It’s no secret that workplace demographics are of increasing importance when it comes to creating an efficient, diverse, and productive business environment. While HR professionals serve as the foundation for upholding a successful workforce for any business, there is no denying that diversity still plays a large part in the dynamics of an effective HR department.

According to Glassdoor, 67% of job seekers said a diverse workforce is important when considering job offers. To keep up with the times, it is more vital than ever for workplaces to uphold an all-inclusive demographic – especially when it comes to HR.

What is Diversity in HR?

Despite remaining a clear indicator of how successful an HR department might operate, many business professionals still are not clear on what diversity truly encompasses. Essentially, diversity in any workplace means an overall understanding and acceptance of the differences between people.

To most, these primary differences include race, ethnicity, age, gender, and sexual orientation. However, true diversity goes beyond these initial markers through variation in education, experiences, disabilities, religions, and even personalities. To put it simply, diversity means equal and appropriate representation for all, regardless of their demographic.

Why is it Important?

The idea of diversity isn’t a simple buzzword or a chance for businesses to spark favorable PR; diversity can have a grand effect on workplace effectiveness by forming a dynamic environment that promotes productivity.

For one, diversity in the workplace – regardless of which department – supports respect and understanding between employees. By incorporating a crew of professionals who come from different backgrounds and share variating skills, colleagues can easily recognize the additional strengths a diverse team enjoys.

Additionally, diversity creates a favorable business reputation that feeds into employee satisfaction and productivity. By increasing focus on ethics and fair treatment, companies ensure loyalty from not only customers who wish to support socially responsible business practices, but their own employees.

These factors don’t benefit the business alone. When surrounded by a diverse collection of colleagues, employees are exposed to a variety of customs, cultures, and beliefs. While learning about different backgrounds, coworkers will also educate themselves about business strategies and skills they otherwise wouldn’t have discovered.

With a diverse HR department, businesses will ensure they support this environment from top-to-bottom. Employees will no longer fear to approach their HR professionals for aid, and the HR department itself will enjoy the many benefits that come with diversity.

How Can HR Become Diverse?

Finding the source for diversity might sound like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the most successful methods for increasing diversity resides in shifting recruitment and outreach strategies to focus on acquiring diverse applicants. This could be anything from recruiting from historically diverse colleges to making it publicly known that a business is an equal opportunity employer on websites and application forms.

Keeping a workplace diverse doesn’t stop at recruitment – maintenance is equally important. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has set measures to maintain employee confidence, including workplace posters that provide resources and information concerning equal opportunity employment. Additionally, the Plan For Affirmative Action requires HR departments to detail the steps it has taken – and will continue to take – in ensuring a workplace that supports equal employment opportunity.

With all things considered, creating a diverse business environment is easier – and more important – than ever. For HR departments, diversity is nothing less than a necessity when it comes to supporting a healthy workplace, and one that will enjoy the benefits of proper employee representation.