Is this the right approach to inclusive hiring?
Roughly half (48%) of hiring managers feel pressured to put meeting DEI hiring requirements above hiring the best candidate for the job, reports Express Employment Professionals.
As a result, a majority of employers place a great deal/some priority in recruiting workers under the age of 30 (65%) and who identify as female (63%), followed by those who identify as LGBTQ (49%), people with disabilities (46%) and those 50 or older (43%).
Meanwhile, 43% place priority on hiring Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) applicants.
“Organizations that have a strong workplace culture in diversity and inclusion have been linked to an increase in productivity, belonging, engagement and innovation,” said Angela Russell, Express Employment International organizational development and DEI manager.
Workers in “female jobs” are undervalued, unhealthy and underpaid, according to a previous report.
While hiring workers from minority groups is a good thing, this can also bring inequality in the workplace, finds The Harris Poll’s survey on behalf of Express, conducted among 507 adults from June 13 to June 26, 2023.
For example, looking at parents, a majority of job seekers (89%) and hiring decision-makers (86%) say working mothers bring valuable skills and perspective to the workplace.
However, while the majority understand that working parents face challenges in the workplace, they are more likely to acknowledge this for mothers (84% of job seekers and 75% of hiring managers) than fathers (69% and 58%, respectively).
To become equal opportunity employers, companies should always hire the best candidate for the job based on their knowledge, skills and abilities, said Russell.
Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller added that for employers to provide workers the best workplace, every employee should feel seen, heard and secure in the knowledge of what they bring to the table.
"Diversity isn't just about ticking boxes; it's about embracing a kaleidoscope of perspectives, experiences and talents,” he said. “In a diverse workplace, ideas flourish and companies thrive."
Last month, the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) released a new document to help employers in addressing problems when it comes to issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Non-profit Small Business BC, which provides advice to small businesses, added that employers should reflect on current hiring practices to determine if they are inclusive.
“Anticipating and understanding structural and systemic barriers for candidates, as well as becoming conscious of, and addressing potential unconscious biases, can bring a sense of comfort and safety to the applicant throughout the entire hiring process,” they said.
