How do you ensure diversity and inclusion when relying on employee referrals?

3 Track and measure your results

To ensure that your referral program is effective and inclusive, you need to track and measure your results. You can use data and metrics to evaluate the quality, quantity, and diversity of your referrals, as well as the impact of your rewards and incentives. For example, you can measure how many referrals you receive, how many of them are hired, how long they stay, how they perform, and how they contribute to your diversity and inclusion goals. You can also compare your referral data with your overall hiring data and industry benchmarks to identify any gaps or opportunities for improvement.

4 Offer flexible and meaningful rewards

Finally, you need to offer flexible and meaningful rewards to your employees who refer candidates. You want to motivate and appreciate your employees for their efforts, but you also want to avoid creating a competitive or transactional culture that can undermine your diversity and inclusion values. Instead of offering only monetary rewards, you can also offer non-monetary rewards, such as recognition, feedback, learning opportunities, or time off. You can also tailor your rewards to your employees' preferences and needs, and give them the option to donate their rewards to a charity or cause of their choice.

Employee referrals can be a powerful tool for hiring, but they can also have unintended consequences for diversity and inclusion. By following these tips, you can reward your employees for their referrals while ensuring that your hiring process is fair, transparent, and inclusive.