Employers often have difficulty creating a diverse workforce, especially in areas that typically don't attract minorities. For example, according to the National Science Foundation, fields such as geosciences and engineering do not employ great numbers of women, people with disabilities or people of color. Improving diversity in the workplace requires practical strategies to include business leaders, educational institutions and social and cultural influences.
Step 1
Send representatives from your business to speak at colleges to inform students of the opportunities in your company. Attend job fairs at traditional minority universities.
Step 2
Join professional organizations that attract minorities to meet prospective employees and to educate other business professionals about your industry. Sponsor fundraisers through nonprofit organizations that reach out to minority communities to get your company name out. Team up with early childhood educators and high school counselors to present programs to younger students aimed at informing them of the opportunities in your business.
Step 3
Develop ongoing in-house training that targets various cultural and social differences among your workforce to educate employees. Cultural and racial diversity is not something that can be understood after a one-day workshop, according to the University of Florida. Conversations, training and targeted activities must be provided on a consistent basis.
Step 4
Keep an open-door policy for employees to safely express their concerns. When an employee who complains about being discriminated against reports the harassment, management should take immediate steps to correct the situation in order to gain the trust of the entire workforce.
Step 5
Allow employees to choose the holidays they wish to honor. Make accommodations for physically challenged employees to easily navigate the workplace. Adopt policies that hold everyone accountable for mutual respect in the workplace. By providing an open and accepting workplace, you can attract and retain a diverse workforce.
Tips and Warnings
- A business owner must stay on top of the progress of the human resources department and various hiring managers. Demand regular progress reports and maintain and evaluate fair, anti-discrimination hiring policies. Review hiring policies and replace those managers who don't seem able to maintain the diversity in hiring that you prefer.
- A company cannot tolerate discrimination or hostile work environments that are uncomfortable for minorities. As a manager or business owner, you must initiate policies that deal with negative attitudes and barriers to advancement for minorities. In addition to placing yourself at risk for legal retribution, according to the University of Florida, a workplace that tolerates stereotyping, harassment or prejudice of any kind is unproductive and damages workplace morale.
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