Diversity at work: it starts with recruiting

Social and economic trends are changing how we work. Demographic change, globalisation, shifting values, falling numbers of people in employment, a growing share of women in work, more people with a migration background. Those are the conditions companies and institutions operate in today. Their success depends on how well they can hold their own in globalised trade and in the competition for qualified staff. A company that commits to diversity sets out to create a working environment in which everyone is valued, regardless of age, ethnic origin and nationality, sex and gender identity, physical and mental ability, religion and belief, sexual orientation and social background.

Numerous studies show that teams put together with as much diversity as possible achieve better results. Companies that pay attention to diversity in selection and in how they compose their teams are more successful. Diversity drives shared creativity and innovation, and recognising and developing a wide range of potential brings real commercial advantages.

1. Diversity makes people satisfied and productive, and strengthens loyalty and morale

Diversity has a real effect on how satisfied employees are, and that in turn strengthens their productivity and morale. It also increases their sense of belonging to the company.

2. A diverse team is a better team to work in

Only when everyone is in an environment where they can be fully themselves do they draw on their full potential. Different ways of thinking, different experiences, skills, backgrounds and cultural influences working together improve motivation and performance. Diversity is a win for employees and employers alike.

3. Diversity strengthens innovation and competitiveness

A diverse workforce develops innovative solutions and gives research and development a lift. The varied backgrounds and accumulated experience of the staff allow processes and structures to be tailored precisely to the markets in question.

4. Diverse companies are more profitable

According to the study "Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters" (McKinsey, 2019), diverse companies are more likely to be above average in profitability. With high gender diversity the potential uplift is 25 per cent; with ethnic diversity it rises to 36 per cent.

5. Diversity matters to candidates and employees

Seventy-three per cent of employees and candidates attach great importance to diversity in a company when looking for a new job (source: Diversity Study, Page Group, 2017). Successful diversity management therefore makes your company more attractive.

Part two of this article will look at how to encourage diversity deliberately within the recruiting process.