How to Make Your Office a More Diverse Place to Work

Diversity in the workplace is important, as it fosters creativity using the varying perspectives of the employees in that office. However, many companies find that their staff does not accurately reflect the citizens who live in that area. They may have a group of predominantly men or mostly white individuals, when the city itself is much more diverse. If this is the case in your place of employment, try using these strategies to make your office a more varied and inspiring place to work:

Figure out where you stand now

Many offices are simply unaware just how homogenous they have become. This is often accidental, as people come and go and things change slowly over time. However, when it is clear that everyone in that workplace looks the same, it is time to make some changes.  If it’s been a while since you analyzed what your staff looks like, take some time to measure the diversity in your office now. You may be surprised by what you find.

Encourage a range of applicants

If one racial group dominates your city, getting a well-mixed population within your office may not be an easy feat. However, it is certainly possible, particularly when you put hiring initiatives into place. Say, for example, you are looking to hire more Asian employees. If there is an Asian professionals group in town, ask to speak for just a few minutes at one of their meetings. This allows these individuals to learn about what your company does, and may enable you to make some connections that could turn into hires one day.

Do not just wait for a diverse range of individuals to find your company and apply for a position there. Make a proactive effort to recruit a wide group of people who will make your office a more exciting and creative place.

Make the job appealing to people from all walks of life

In order to attract a diverse group of employees, you will need to make sure that your jobs appeal to a wide range of people. If you’re looking for more working moms, for example, you’ll need to offer an appealing childcare plan. If you’re hoping to attract older individuals, make it a point to emphasize plenty of training, and advertise the open job in a place where someone older might spot it. Understand that people will have different needs, skills, and expectations depending on where they come from. Be flexible and willing to work with these needs in order to attract a wide range of people to your office.

Additional perks like on-site childcare, plenty of time off, paid training, or relaxed apparel choices can draw in candidates who might not otherwise have applied to work at your office. This ability to understand what people look for in a job will allow you to attract a wide range of candidates.

What are some of the steps you take to promote diversity within your office?