4 Reasons to Consider Diversity in Your Virtual Hiring Process in 2021

The pandemic has made workplace diversity not just one of the talking points of HR practitioners nowadays, but a key objective. To drive an effective work remote set-up, organizations are required to be looking at new perspectives for a changed workplace that still shouts diversity.

What is Workplace Diversity?

Although some organizations look at an ideal working organization as a workplace composed of people from almost the same breeding ground, forward-thinking organizations tend to understand the complexity of having diverse employees and strategically turn it to their business benefits.

Why is diversity important?

4 Benefits of a Diverse Workplace

1. Wider Talent Pool. Organizations who are committed to recruiting diverse talents have the best opportunity to hire the right person for the right role. Shortage of candidates is nothing to worry about because they do not limit themselves to a specific group of applicants. Additionally, turnaround time in processing applicants can be shortened.

2. New Perspectives. Since ideas may overflow from people with diverse experience or skills, this paves a way to a greater collaboration. This is most especially helpful to start-ups as it can help them grow their business faster. Organizations should start having a more diverse set of sourcing and staffing professionals and be more open about different recruitment inclusion matters.

3.  Lower Attrition Rate. Employees who feel valued, appreciated and celebrated in their respective organization, regardless of their differences, are most likely to stay longer than those who do not. A diverse workplace can also help employees understand and respect these differences which will in turn reduce conflicts.

4.  Engaged Employees. Since preconceived beliefs have already been torn apart, diverse employees will not be hindered to perform their best in the tasks given to them. They will feel more encouraged to express who they authentically are because they are made aware of how to work with others, and that they are protected by their company.

The term diversity may mean wanting an environment with a diverse range of people and perspectives. This includes respecting the fact that some individuals may be unique when compared with the standard.

You may refer to PATH Values Model below to help your organization shape and build your culture through a standard and objective assessment.

Including diversity, there are 15 core values perfectly clustered to help you proactively address potential issues to create a cohesive workplace.

The Business Case for Workplace Diversity in Southeast Asia

In a 2020 research conducted by Boston Consulting Group, Southeast Asia companies with a diverse leadership team reported 19% more innovation and 9% higher EBIT margins. 

In addition, BCG also found a correlation between a more diverse workforce and greater innovation—with a higher share of revenue coming from new products.  Similarly, at companies where leadership teams are committed to Diversity and Inclusion, employees are more likely to believe that the organization is on an upward trajectory, more prepared for the digital economy, and better positioned to compete. 

Reports like this show that managing diversity plays a vital role in making a more productive and a healthier employee-employer relationship. 

And, for organizations to effectively create a diverse workplace, they need to understand candidates and employees’ backgrounds and how their behavior and values can affect their decision-making within their working environment.

Creating a positive employer brand includes the creation of a harmonious working environment. Organizations should start looking at diversity as something their business can benefit from.