Revisiting Workforce Diversity in the recent times

Diversity & Inclusion(D&I) has always been an engaging agenda for organizations across the globe, the importance of which can least be emphasized. In fact for very large organizations, building an inclusive workplace has been on the strategic charter and not just a workplace perk. Until a month back organization were talking about balancing the gender workforce at all levels, and transformational policies to support women in leadership. Does it make an environment inclusive only by bridging the gender gap. Given the recent ‘pandemonium by a pandemic’ , there will be recognition of new roles across agencies-private, domestic , government. Every contribution will matter , in ensuring long term business continuity!

Safety, Rescue, Disaster Management

Safety is a concept needs to be imbibed like all other fundamental values of the organization. Sometimes organizations speak about the importance of Safety, but to ensure last mile reach, it needs commitment from the ’top bosses’. The safety standards are often well defined in a manufacturing set up given health hazards for non-compliance. In a corporate set up, it is often advisory than regulatory. I worked for the greatest tenure for a telecom company, and the way it embraced and enforced Absolute Safety Rules is worth emulating, by linking it with a consequent management matrix for non-compliance. While in another organization, I was fascinated to witness airlifting services to emergency response team extending support even in personal crisis. There will be an advent of these roles to ensure companies mitigate as much risks on the occupational front and through reinforcement of the same on the personal front, and incline downwards towards the axis of fatality.

 Heath & Well-being Champions

The state of being physically fit and mentally agile, is as important as the Culture fit. One's natural responses in managing conflicts, in handling adversities and rising through personal crisis , contribution towards community welfare outside narcissistic self-love , defines our 360 degree well-being. This will assume greater relevance than technical proficiency and could be a game changer in the selection processes. Fitness enthusiasts , Health food bloggers, marathon runners , meditation facilitators will get the brownie points for going 'beyond the call of duty' to inspire healthy living and overall well-being!

Counsellors and Therapist

Stress and anxiety levels are at an all-time high, both at work and at home level, with the millennium singles and couple juggling multiple hats with equal parenting, taking care of older generation, being involved in community services, leading an active social life and paying the EMI's for the essentials. Mental health has been mentioned off late, on social media but has been mostly grounded as a ’good to have session ’ in the engagement calendar. Shall we see a new dawn of adjunct roles at the corporate level, distinct from the HR ? Whom employees can reach out to open their minds, be heard and advised , and opening the Pandora’s box ,in front of a neutral entity without getting perceived as the stereotypical problem child !

Supply Chain Forces

 Business models are trending to doorstep delivery concepts. It will see an improvement in the supply chain efficiency , and an increased demand for the delivery partners. Incentives for better performance, revision of benefits, investment in training for the front-line forces will be essential more than ever now, as they will be front ending customers. And naturally so the they will be championing Voice of Customers .

 Digital Iconoclast

There was time offices banned Facebook during work hours. Ironically , now , a lot of business happens through Social Media. By now we have already witnessed businesses go virtual with the paramount contribution of the digital teams . Team collaboration tools, Yammer engagements, Artificial Intelligence, has become a way out to be connected with customers and push sales through the digital platforms. The marketing budgets will sharply focus on online campaigns. This will be an opportunity as much a need to make the brands presence felt online . Employer branding and Influencer Marketing , will become important ever more. And the need for AI analysts, gaming inventors, social media influencers for enhancing usage and retention will find a way into the marketing mission beyond the strategies of Philip Kotler.

And not necessarily companies will create new ‘ Team Org structures’, but they will revisit the job descriptions and their resource management teams to see how champions for most of the roles can be identified internally and entrusted to existing employees to shoulder modified responsibilities.