This month and always, it’s important to celebrate and amplify diverse voices. This is especially true in the workplace. When inclusive practices and policies are normalized, the seats at the table are filled with racial diversity and unique perspectives. Everyone wins in this scenario – it’s just good business and it makes the world a better place.
The American Sociological Association found that “companies reporting the highest levels of racial diversity brought in nearly 15 times more sales revenue on average than those with the lowest levels of racial diversity.” (Diverse Recruiting Efforts)
In this article, we offer a collection of resources from HR and Diversity professionals that will help your organization along the journey. Listen, learn, and commit to a lifetime of practicing allyship in the workplace to participate in the change necessary to have a just and equitable society. Here are a few places to expand your knowledge and put it into practice.
The History & Evolution of Diversity in the Workplace
To truly understand a subject, it’s important to look back at how we got here. The resources provided here are just some of the excellent pieces of content available on the history of diversity in the workplace and how it has evolved over the years. To understand what we have left to do, let’s first look at what has been accomplished.
The History of Diversity Training & Its Pioneers
Reprinted by permission: Vaughn, B. E. (2007). Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Management Magazine, pp. 11 – 16, Vol.1, Issue 1, Spring 2007. DTUI.com Publications Division
A Brief History of Diversity in the Workplace
An online course from Coursera
The Diversity and Inclusion Revolution: Eight Powerful Truths
By Juliet Bourke and Bernadette Dillon, published by Deloitte Review
Bias Assessments
We are all affected by implicit bias. Regardless of intent, our biases impact our attitudes towards a particular group of people (favorably or negatively).
Implicit bias is a universal phenomenon, not limited by race, gender, or even country of origin. (Perception Institute)
Though it’s a tough pill to swallow, we can be aware of where our biases lie, and in that awareness, work to change them. Armed with the facts, we can institute policies that promote fair and unbiased practices.
We invite you and your co-workers to take the Implicit Bias Test from Project Implicit.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training & Policies
Whether you seek online resources or are looking to hire a consultant to enact change, workplace training is the first step to creating a safe and welcoming company culture. Training and learning is a great place to start, and policy drives action. These resources will help you build your programs and policies to eliminate discrimination and bias from your organization.
How to Develop a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative
by Society for Human Resource Management
Learning for Justice
Offers professional development including Workshops, Self-Guided Learning, and other on-demand training.
Diversity Science
Offers assessments, training workshops and courses, and DEI change agent advising.
Executive Diversity Services
Offers assessments, training, and facilitation.
Who Supports Diversity Policies? It Depends on the Policy
by Danny Lambouths III, William Scarborough, and Allyson Holbrook
Policies and Procedures to Support a Diverse Workforce
By Ruth Mayhew
Supporting Employees of Color
Your employees of color may need additional support – especially during the unprecedented current environment that includes a civil rights movement, global pandemic, and political unrest. These resources will help you make the workplace safe and inviting, long past the hiring process.
Workplace Diversity Goes Far Past Hiring. How Leaders Can Support Employees Of Color
By Anjuli Sastry and Andee Tagle
6 Steps to Building a Better Workplace for Black Employees
By Dina Gerdeman
Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community
By Sunshine Behavioral Health
3 Ways to Support the Mental Health of Employees of Color
By Paula Allen
COVID-19 Specific Resources
How U.S. Companies Can Support Employees of Color Through the Pandemic
by Laura Morgan Roberts, Courtney L. McCluney, Erin L. Thomas, and Michelle Kim
Diverse Employees are Struggling the Most During COVID-19—Here’s How Companies Can Respond
By Kweilin Ellingrud, Mekala Krishnan, Alexis Krivkovich, Kathryn Kukla, Ana Mendy, Nicole Robinson, Sandra Sancier-Sultan, and Lareina Yee
Tools of the Trade
Creating a welcoming environment for candidates and employees is possible with the right tools. Using the technology behind an online recruitment software will help you eliminate bias and encourage diversity amongst your team:
- Automated tagging and filtering so the best candidates rise to the top
- Assessments that evaluate candidates on the same level playing field
- Collaborative candidate evaluation tools like averaged star ratings
- Hiding data or information that doesn’t pertain to skills, such as LinkedIn profile pictures
Recruiting professionals and professionals tasked with creating recruiting strategies are in a unique position to help others hire and retain a diverse group of talented employees. A strong recruitment strategy is the bedrock of any successful DEI initiative. We created the HiringThing Guide to DEI Recruiting to help organizations reimagine their hiring practices through a DEI lens.
About HiringThing
HiringThing is a modern recruiting and employee onboarding platform as a service that creates seamless talent experiences. Our white label solutions and open API enable HR technology and service providers to offer hiring and onboarding to their clients. Approachable and adaptable, the HiringThing HR platform empowers anyone, anywhere to build their dream team.
