A diverse workforce includes multiple ages, ethnicities and worldviews plus inclusive hiring is not only great for building teams, but it benefits society as a whole.

Many executives are starting initiatives to create a stronger sense of community within their company. How do you make sure your employee experience is inclusive?

Assess hiring strategy
Was your hiring process designed with diversity and inclusivity in mind? Some companies conduct blind resume reviews that anonymizes applications to reduce the risk of bias. Admittedly, this does come with its own pitfalls and isn’t a guaranteed solution.

You may also want to look at your network and figure out what talent pool you’re pulling from. If you’re exclusively hiring local candidates, you’ll be working with a smaller group of people that can inhibit you from getting top talent. Additionally, your job descriptions may need updating.

If you’re navigating through the sea of talent yourself, it can be easy to get caught up in the clutter and miss qualified candidates. That’s why it’s helpful to consult a recruitment firm to assist in the hiring process and widen the talent pool.

Start with leadership
Your organization’s executives are instrumental in an inclusive workplace. Your leaders will set the precedent for the organization’s culture and expectations. So, educate your leaders first. Create a safe space where leaders feel comfortable asking the difficult questions.

Once the C-suite is educated, they will be in a better position to set up initiatives company-wide. Larger companies can even set up an inclusion council. Usually, this includes a group of senior leaders that are ready to jumpstart and manage the diversity and inclusion process. You can learn how to set one up here.

Listen to employees
The only way you can understand other people’s experiences is to listen. Depending on the size of your organization, it’s fair to assume that one can have contrasting viewpoints in the same company. You may have a toxic work environment in one department and a tight-knit community in another. It’s important to listen to the needs and concerns of your employees on an individual level.

One thing to note is that inclusivity isn’t linear. Employees all don’t function the same or thrive in the same environments. While some employees may thrive having meetings, workers that speak English as their second language may like to have a handout so they can back refer to it. It’s also important to strike a balance so nobody feels siloed. Employees should feel included and respected regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, etc.

The hiring process is not something that you should take lightly. If you’re looking for talent, but not sure where to start, contact us! You can reach out to us at info@jdisearch.com / www.jdisearch.com and we’ll get you in touch with the right associate for your needs.