Diversity and Inclusion: How to manage diversity in the workplace

Are you among the 77% organizations in India that believe in diversity and inclusion? If yes, how do you promote diversity in the hiring process? Here we have compiled a few tips to improve diversity while hiring.

Understand Bias

The first step is to acknowledge and understand that biases are ubiquitous and can crawl into the hiring process. So, it is important to identify the sources of bias and assess them before making decisions. Encouraging recruiters to participate in diversity training and including a heterogenous and diverse group of interviews will be good first steps in promoting diversity.

Eliminiate Bias

1. The Interview Process Eliminate bias by creating strict procedure that apply to all candidates. You can do this by implementing a trial project to assess candidates' skills. Follow this up with an interview where everyone is asked the same questions and assigning scores to compare candidates. Is a recruiter expressing that they “just really like the candidate”? In that case, ensure that the candidates is actually fit for the role instead of weighing in on the recruiter's affinity.
2. The Job Description Avoid deterring certain sections of candidates by using neutral language in job descriptions. Want to include female candidates in hiring? Don't use phrases like "strong", "aggressive" that are associated with masculinity in the job description. Also make sure to restrict the job description to responsibilities required by the role instead of stuffing it with "nice to haves".

Correct for Bias

Set Diversity Targets: Define diversity goals and establish metrics to track progress at each hiring stage. Analyze these metrics to identify areas for improvement and adjust strategies accordingly.

Leverage Referrals and Communities: Tap into networks and communities that value diversity to source candidates. Encourage referrals from employees and actively seek out diverse talent pools. Highlight your company's commitment to diversity and inclusion in outreach efforts to attract a diverse applicant pool.

By implementing these strategies, organizations can foster a more inclusive hiring process and build a diverse workforce reflective of society's richness and variety