Important Reasons Why Having a Diverse Workplace Could Greatly Benefit Your Business
In today’s modern and constantly progressing society, the world is aiming to move in a direction that reflects the zeitgeist, and many businesses are trying to reshape their internal structures to run parallel with such changes. And because we now live in a digital age where people around the world have an easier time connecting with each other on a personal level, there’s literally no excuse for companies to slack off when it comes to the issue of diversity, and it’s a subject matter that entrepreneurs everywhere should take seriously if they want to succeed and stay ahead of their fiercest competitors.
The world isn’t what it used to be decades and centuries ago when people used to have this separatist and discriminatory attitude based on racial, religious, or cultural grounds. But while the world at large still does suffer from the negative aspects of inequality, injustice, as well as various social phobias and hatreds, humanity is—for the most part—doing its best to become better versions of themselves compared to how they were in the past. And since diversity is such a strong buzzword in today’s society, many companies are striving to have a workplace that is the very embodiment of that term.
What most business owners may not know is that a truly diverse workplace is something that could really help them achieve their goals and make their brand truly aspirational for the general public. Regardless of one’s racial background, religious belief, gender identity, or cultural affiliation, companies should simultaneously respect and embrace individuals from various walks of life as they prevent businesses from looking too homogenous and more like a proper reflection of what the world really looks like today. That being said, here are some of the key points as to why diversity really matters in the field of business.
Diversity encourages economic growth
With more and more minorities around the world contributing to the positive direction of the global economy, companies should not ignore how important it is to have a diverse workplace that helps them be in tune with the current sociopolitical trends happening around the world. When businesses have a workforce that mirrors the diverse international demographic of many countries, then they have a better chance of receiving a boost in sales or profits since people like to know that companies are open to the issue of diversity.
In fact, market research has shown that a huge percentage of sales from across various business sectors come from different minority demographics such as people of color, women, and LGBT individuals. Your business would be taking several major progressive steps forward if you’re hiring smart and talented people who happen to represent the very minority groups who are pushing international commerce to an upward trajectory, so do the right thing and be an agent for change that could help benefit everyone, including yourself.
Diversity captures consumer interest
Having a workforce that doesn’t have a diverse group of individuals can be rather dull, not to mention that it could pose a threat when it comes to attracting the attention of consumers. Because people are now more socially aware these days thanks to faster access of breaking news, current events, and developing stories in the media, they are likely to respond with negativity or hesitation if they know that a certain business does not have a workforce that is open to accepting people who come from multiple minority groups.
This gives them the implication and perception that such a business will be intolerant of customers who belong to such minorities, and therefore, their response would be to stay away from such an establishment. If you intend to broaden or increase your market share against your competitors, then hiring a diverse staff would help you achieve that ambitious goal. When you have a collection of employees cut from different fabrics, then you’ll end up with a business tapestry that will be so beautiful to look at no matter what the angle is.
Diversity reduces employee turnover rates
Businesses that are not open to the idea of diversity could very well find themselves fostering a very unfriendly and hostile work environment, and that could spell bad news for everyone in the long run. When employees are placed in this kind of intolerant working environment, then chances are that they won’t find any reason to stay long and decide to leave in search of better job options whose working conditions are less abrasive and more accepting to others with different social and cultural backgrounds or beliefs.
And if your business happens to have an issue with turnover rates, then maybe you should think about changing your hiring practices along with the way you structure your corporate culture. Companies that have a strong and diverse workforce have shown to have very minimal turnover rates—as well as a happier and productive working environment—compared to those businesses where the staff has little to no presence of diverse individuals. And if you care about your bottom line, then you know exactly what you have to do in order to ensure the very survival of your business will remain stable.
Diversity helps with positive public relations
Companies who are open and inclusive to LGBT individuals, people of color, and others who identify themselves as belonging to a minority are likely to receive strong approval ratings from the public than those businesses who openly discriminate on people who don’t conform to traditional societal norms. Thinking about your public image is very important to the continuing existence of your business because consumer preferences are very fickle, and their loyalties towards a business can change rather abruptly if said company isn’t pushing a message of positivity to society.
Many socially progressive businesses who do corporate promotional ads often showcase their diverse staff as part of their campaigns as a means of showing the world that they are leading by positive example. Furthermore, these companies know firsthand that the only publicity that matters is good publicity. And when a business receives good publicity from the press, then consumers will respond accordingly by becoming loyal customers and help promote that company and its welcoming appeal to others in their social circles.
Diversity promotes creativity and innovation
What most entrepreneurs often overlook when it comes to hiring people for their businesses is that talented people come in different shades and backgrounds, and it’s going to be very counterproductive for their goals if they exclude those people who are more than qualified for the job but their personal bias happens to get in the way. Moreover, a lot of countries around the world are now making it illegal by law for companies to refuse job opportunities to people—and to a certain extent, terminating their positions—based solely on their racial background, religious affiliation, or gender identity.
When your existing pool of employees is filled to the brim with a group of diverse people, then you’ll have a higher chance of improving your business strategies since the talented individuals under your employ may have something valuable to contribute onto the table. Creativity and innovation are traits that cross cultural, social, and political barriers, and so it would be wise for you to respect and value your employees who possess such traits and not be bothered in the slightest that they identify themselves as part of a minority group.
