More employers implementing policy but many not reaching out to diverse candidates
More Canadian companies are implementing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy, with the proportion jumping to 42 per cent from 35 per cent just five months ago, according to a report from Express Employment Professionals.
And 20 per cent of companies that don’t have a policy in place say they plan to implement one in the next two years.
However, 28 per cent of employers say they do not plan to adopt one, finds the survey of 505 hiring decision-makers.
And while 85 per cent of companies say DEI efforts are important, only 33 per cent are taking steps to reach candidates that may not meet their traditional demographics (such as having have unique backgrounds or being racially/ethnically diverse) in 2021.
Employers with 100 or more workers are far more likely than companies with under 10 employees to have a DEI policy (55 per cent compared with 28 per cent) or to adopt one (22 per cent compared with 13 per cent).
“In the looming war for talent, companies that will win and are able to attract and retain talent will be the ones that incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion and promote cultural intelligence into their operations and guiding principles,” says Jessica Culo, an Express franchise owner in Edmonton.
The pandemic has brought on a growing awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in many organizations, according to one expert.
Benefits to diversity
Employers say that DEI efforts are important: to support minority groups (49 per cent), foster acceptance and trust among employees (46 per cent), gain new ideas and perspectives (46 per cent), improve company reputation (33 per cent) and to comply with government regulations (32 per cent).
“As lockdowns end and hiring ramps up, companies should look to recruit a team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and ideas,” says Bill Stoller, Express CEO. “Having employees with diverse experiences who can view challenges differently and come up with innovative ideas and solutions can help companies succeed and grow.”
At organizations with a recognition programs that includes a DEI component, 55 per cent of employees are highly engaged compared to businesses that don’t combine the two areas, where only 17 per cent of workers report feeling highly motivated, according to another report.
Express Employment cited several ways that companies can promote DEI:
- only partner with other vendors or organizations that have a DEI policy in place
- provide DEI training to employees
- include acceptance of a company’s policy as part of the contract for new hires
- hire more women and people from under-represented minority groups to management positions and ensure the same criteria are used to objectively measure employee performance.
