Thursday, February 5, 2015

Increase Workplace Diversity

Valuing diversity in your workplace encourages employee retention and morale.


Employees, regardless of age, gender, ethnic background and beliefs like to know you value them as people as well as for their contribution to your company's success. Boost employee retention and morale in your workplace by taking steps to attract and retain a diverse group of employees, teaching them to value one another's contributions as much as you do.


Instructions


Encouraging and Increasing Workplace Diversity


1. Write a policy promoting workplace diversity. Declare your workplace is age, race and gender unbiased, recommends an article titled, "Increase Workplace Diversity," at the Wall Street Journal website. Make sure your policy adheres to the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission guidelines. Establish a committee to implement the policy and brainstorm new ways to attract and retain a diverse pool of applicants. Amend your company mission statement to reflect your new policy and advertise it to employment agencies.


2. Network with churches, cultural institutions, nonprofit associations and universities to find job candidates. Expand your search to other states and even other countries, online. Ask your employees if they know anyone looking for a job, and offer a reward if you hire their referrals.


3. Be sure each employee fully understands that your company hires recruits based on abilities and not gender or ethnicity. Implement a diversity training program to include courses on workplace policies and procedures, conflict resolution, reporting problems to management and being sensitive to others' differences, recommends an article titled "Minimizing Conflict Over Workplace Diversity," on the Diversity Insight website.


4. Offer on-site daycare, childcare subsidies and flexible schedules for working parents. Accommodate holidays and ethnic, but office-appropriate, clothing for the different cultures represented in your office. Work with the local chamber of commerce to establish more international restaurants, grocery stores and entertainment.


5. Brainstorm ways of reaching other ethnic groups or age brackets that your company's products aren't currently targeting. Not only will this expand your business, but it will also reassure your employees that your company values their differences.

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