The COVID-19 pandemic threw almost every industry on its proverbial head, and many changes were made to keep up with the changes and legislation forcing people to stay inside in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. One realization many companies had is that many remote workers have the ability to perform at similar levels as they did when they worked in the office setting.
First, that is good for companies that can easily save on brick-and-mortar costs by allowing employees to work from home. In addition, it also allows companies to look much further than their own locales to find quality talent.
Being able to offer work to people from many different places and cultures is a great benefit of the increased move to global business sparked by remote abilities.
Promoting diversity in the workplace serves (at least) a three-fold benefit for any expanding business, and here is a look at why:
Morality
As the world continues to become more accessible with evolutions in travel and communication technology, there is a moral obligation to teach yourself and your team more about cultures you may be interacting with, and how to create a better world view within themselves.
For this moral reason, promoting acceptance and inclusion should be a priority for anyone looking to expand.
Employee Performance
Countless studies, even many conducted long before diversity was measured, conclude that happy and motivated employees perform at higher levels. For diverse teams, creating a sense of inclusion and acceptance is essential for these employees to continue being happy and ultimately performing at high levels.
From locale to gender identity to age to race to random interests, making your space a safe area to share ideas and beliefs will increase your team’s performance.
Employee Pool/Retention
Diversity should be mutually beneficial for employees and employers, and ideas from proverbial unturned stones that are diverse employees make those employees feel included and help the ultimate goal. The more diverse a team is, the more potential there is for unique ideas and collaboration, and according to a survey by Glassdoor, ⅓ of potential employees would not apply to a job that lacks diversity, and even more, would not apply to a job where former employers had made complaints about lacks in diversity.
As mentioned in the introduction, advancements in technology that allow the remote workplace to be efficient and successful also allow teams to hire individuals from across the globe. Having a noticeable focus on diversity and cultural awareness makes you much more likely to get employees from foreign pools of talent. Also, part of the trend is greater retention rates for companies that make conscious efforts to promote diversity and inclusion.
A True Win-Win
When it comes right down to it, promoting diversity in the workplace is a no-brainer. Time and time again, companies that seek to broaden the horizons of their workforce are rewarded in both financial and moral gains.
These gains come from the fact that inclusive work environments repeatedly prove to enhance employees’ attitudes toward their jobs. Happy employees tend to be more efficient employees, and the inclusion of employees also fosters the inclusion of personal experiences and ideas.
