Diversity is good for business
When it comes to human capital, businesses want to have the most productive workforce possible, and many invest heavily in training programs and team building in an effort to create an atmosphere where employees can succeed. But there is another way to boost employee productivity that many businesses overlook: Diversity initiatives.
In these tough economic times, it might seem like investing in diversity programs is a luxury; but there are benefits to implementing inclusion initiatives, beyond just an ethical standpoint. Here at InfoCision, we’ve found that workplace diversity has far-reaching business benefits that have positively impacted our employees’ productivity.
“Diversity programs are about creating and maintaining an inclusive environment where no matter what an employee brings to the table, it is valued and celebrated,” said Myles. “When you embrace everyone’s strengths, the organization as a whole is more productive; and it also helps managers to better manage their teams because they have a better grasp on what their employees do well.” -Tina Myles, Director of Human Resources at InfoCision Management Corporation
Where does diversity begin?
We began our diversity program nearly two years ago when President Carl Albright brought Tina Myles in to head the human resources department, in large part due to her expertise in developing and promoting corporate diversity. About five years ago, we implemented work/life balance programs to give employees convenient tools for improving their health and making their lives easier. In this spirit, Carl knew that InfoCision possessed a wide collection of diverse and excellent employees, and wanted to make sure the company was providing a comfortable workplace for all of them.
We didn’t implement our current diversity initiatives overnight. Successful diversity programs take time. It’s important to include everyone regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, political views or disabilities. If changes in the workplace are made too quickly without taking the necessary planning steps, you run the risk of being resisted by current employees.
We have a rich culture and standing traditions at InfoCision, so it was important that the diversity program fit within our existing corporate culture – not alter it. We started out small with a calendar that highlighted the diverse collection of employees and told their unique stories.
We’re lucky to have a resident diversity expert but if your company doesn’t have a great deal of resources, don’t fret.
For employers that want to start a diversity initiative but don’t have a lot of time or resources to invest, Tina offers the following easy and low-cost tips:
- Spotlighting diverse employees in a company newsletter or calendar
- Offer brown-bag lunch lectures on a diversity topic – many groups will speak for free.
- Create affinity groups to support a specific segment of the workforce (such as women, Asian-Americans, workers with Military experience, etc.).
- Have a potluck where workers bring in foods and recipes from their ethnic heritage.
- Announce local events that support diversity on your bulletin board or intranet.
There are many community resources available to help companies of all sizes that want to harness the power of embracing diversity. You can develop partnerships with community organizations committed to diversity. For example, we work with the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and participate in the Greater Cleveland Partnership Commission on Economic Inclusion Diversity Professional Committee to learn and share ideas with others.
Hiring and Retention
In addition to engaging current employees, diversity programs can be extremely helpful for hiring and retaining new employees. When new or potential employees encounter an environment that embraces all of their skills and attributes, that employee is more likely to feel comfortable with the company and enjoy their job right away; and be less likely to leave and waste the cost of training.
Our 90 day retention rate is 99 percent, and the overall retention rate is among the lowest in the call center industry. Our HR coordinators recognize the importance of hiring from a completely diverse pool of talent because it helps to bring in the very best workers for the company.
Think outside the box and look in a few nontraditional places when recruiting new employees. We work with local organizations such as the Cleveland Sight Center, El Barrio West Side Ecumenical Ministry, the Akron Urban League, the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board and by doing this, we have found some tremendous employees.
We’ve found that diversity initiatives contribute to positive employee morale and productivity. How does your company or organization celebrate diversity?
