We aim to provide practical advice and guidance on how to ensure workplaces are inclusive, how they might encourage a broader pool of talent to apply and how best to support people from a variety of backgrounds for the longevity of their careers.
Diverse Hiring - What You Can Do as an Employee
When it comes to diversity anyone can make an impact. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or are an ally here is a list of a key things you can do to help promote a more diverse culture in your organisation:
Be considerate of others’ diverse characteristics and needs
Improving diversity and inclusion starts by taking personal responsibility for our obligation to further understand others and accommodate different backgrounds, cultures, and orientations. Taking some time to educate yourself about diverse groups can help prepare you for better supporting your colleagues and promoting a positive environment.
Join a staff diversity group… or form one!
Some companies will have diversity groups which help promote diversity and inclusion by running events, fundraising, writing articles, and providing support. Committing some of your time to a group and sharing your views can really help foster a positive environment that embraces diversity.
If your organisation does not have a diversity group, consider making one. Stonewall has an excellent guide to forming an LGBTQ+ Employee Network Group. Discuss the matter with fellow staff - you may find some will come onboard to assist you and divide the workload. Be sure to speak with HR too - they may be able to assist you with resources, advice and help you align with your organisations’ Diversity and Inclusion goals.
Undertake diversity training
Unconscious bias training among others can help to practically provide you with the skills and the knowledge to tackle your own negative bias and perceptions. If your company does not provide such training perhaps suggest a course or ask them to invite a speaker. Consider reaching out to a diversity consultant such as Balance Patch to help inform your approach.
Help your company set diversity goals and help hold them accountable
Tracking diversity statistics and setting measurable and achievable goals can help improve diversity within your company. Encouraging key stakeholders and the HR team to set and evaluate their progress in meeting diversity-oriented goals and targets such as values setting, inclusion management and developing good D&I data is key.
Know your company’s diversity goals and help them reach them
If your company already has diversity goals reach out and see what you can do to help meet them. Are there positive behaviours you could model? Is there networking you could undertake? Could you refer a colleague from a traditionally underrepresented demographic? Helping your employer in the hiring process can help bring diverse candidates to the fore and really bolster value add in recruitment.
Being conscious of your company's diversity goals and how they tie to the company’s and your own values will help you promote diversity with your behaviour.
If you feel comfortable, speak with others about your own diverse characteristics or allyship, and help others do the same
Sharing our unique experiences about how our diverse characteristics have impacted our lives can help educate others, support a positive environment, and allow us to be ourselves. It helps promote diversity of thought and helps others feel comfortable in discussing their own experiences.