Diversity in the workplace benefits employers. It includes hiring and promoting a workforce of people with differences. These differences include race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical abilities and economic backgrounds. The premise of a diverse workplace is that employees are brought together to create a culture of inclusiveness, where all employees feel valued.

Employers benefit tremendously by having a motivated, valued workforce. They include a reduction in lawsuits, increased candidate pool, increase productivity, and a positive image.

Any organization truly committed to diversity is likely to receive very few discrimination claims. An employee pursuing legal action against a company can only claim discrimination if she or he has been terminated or victimized for a difference she or he possesses from her or his coworkers. If the company retains a diverse group of employees at every level, there should never be cause for any such claims.

A company that embraces workplace diversity immediately attracts a wider pool of candidates for its job vacancies. Higher-educated candidates who experienced diversity while at university may feel that a diverse company is more progressive, and therefore will want to work there while candidates from all lifestyles, and especially minority groups, will be far more likely to apply for positions at a diverse company. As more candidates apply for each position, the company enjoys a larger candidate pool, ensuring that the best candidate for the job is more easily found.

A diverse company can lead to greater productivity. The company will also gain from each employee learning from each other’s experiences and applying this new-found knowledge to their work. Employees from different backgrounds see processes and practices from different perspectives and therefore are able to bring fresh ideas to the table. Morale also leads to higher productivity levels, and organizations that are diverse have consistently high levels of morale.

Companies who hire and promote individuals from a range of backgrounds gain a reputation for being a good employer. Potential customers often feel more valued and therefore give more business to these organizations. A client whose first language is not English may welcome a staff member who is able to speak in their native language and word will spread that your company employs people from all backgrounds.

If you are looking to improve your team through creative and diverse insights, get in touch with me, Dr. Turner Joy, who will be able to advise you on the recruitment process in your area.