The Purpose of Diversity and Inclusion Programs in the Workplace

Many companies have launched diversity and inclusion programs. These workplace initiatives often incorporate employee training, executive coaching, networking opportunities, mentoring programs and other programming.

How to find and attract diverse talent

Many industries suffer from a significant talent shortage. Companies struggle to meet their recruiting and employee-count goals, and often, it’s because they continue to recruit from the same professional networks, schools or geographic areas from which they have been recruiting for decades.

To help find and attract new talent from areas they have not approached before, companies can engage employees from diverse backgrounds and then leverage their connections. People tend to know others who are similar to them, so companies can find new pools of talent through diversity and inclusion programs.

Employers with diversity and inclusion programs may also be more attractive to job candidates because they demonstrate cultural understanding and acceptance.

Prospective employees want to believe they will feel welcome and accepted when they join a new company, and having diversity and inclusion programs tells job candidates: “There are successful people in the company just like you, and they want to help you be successful, too.”

Diversity and inclusion programs introduce employees to your corporate culture

New employees may need help understanding the norms and company culture.

Employee resource groups can help by empowering colleagues to support one another. For example, Asian-Americans may find it difficult to tout their own accomplishments because of values instilled in them since childhood. Women may have been taught to downplay their contributions or intelligence in group settings. In a large company, these professionals may need to find ways to adapt that are both advantageous in the workplace and culturally acceptable.

Diversity and inclusion programs can help provide integration strategies and professional networks.

Diversity and inclusion programs can help you identify top talent

Diversity and inclusion programs can help managers recognize talent they might otherwise overlook.

Research shows that managers are more likely to reward and promote people like them. The issue can be compounded when managers do not recognize their own biases.

If a company has a high percentage of managers with similar demographics, it is likely that those demographics will not change much over time. Diversity and inclusion programs can call attention to other employees, which can help managers move out of the default mode of hiring, recognizing and promoting only those employees within their existing inner circles.

The impact of diversity and inclusion programs on employee retention

Diversity and inclusion programs can give a voice and sense of community to employees who may otherwise feel isolated or underrepresented.

After implementation, the programs can help companies retain talented employees. When people feel isolated, they are unlikely to be engaged with their company. Connected employees are more productive and loyal. Connected employees stick around.

Workplace diversity and inclusion programs can help with new market expansion

Breaking into new markets can be challenging. Notably, many companies struggle to set the right tone in their marketing. Others may not even recognize that they have a potential niche customer base. In short, it is hard to sell to someone you do not know exists.

A diverse employee base can offer an insider perspective on different markets and customer preferences. For example, a Latin employee resource group could help a company translate both the language and the feel of commercials so that they seem natural to the target community. A lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group could help a company create new products or services tailored to their specific issues.

By working with management and marketing teams, networks of diverse employees can provide companies with a competitive edge in underperforming market segments.

The bottom line

Companies benefit when they can find and attract diverse talent, introduce new employees to the corporate culture, identify and retain top talent, and expand into new markets. Diversity and inclusion programs in the workplace help companies accomplish these goals.

Consider getting involved if your company has launched a diversity and inclusion program. You may find a sense of belonging you didn’t even know you were missing. You may also find yourself empowered to include others in ways you never expected.

This article was written by Amy C. Waninger for Living Corporate and was lightly edited and published with permission.