Why You Should Look for Employers That Value Workplace Diversity

Studies show that when a company values diversity, it makes it a better place to work, which is why it is important to seek out employers who make diversity a priority. In this post, we delve into how diversity in a workplace can be beneficial, what it looks like and the questions to ask to make sure it is valued where you want to work.?

By Brandi Fowler

Diversity in the workplace makes a company better, which is a proven fact.

“Evidence shows that if you have a workplace that’s effective, responsive, and beneficial for people of all backgrounds, then everyone's going to succeed,” said Barings chief director of diversity and inclusion and Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program co-founder, Chasity Boyce.

Boyce pointed to a 2020 study conducted by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which showed the relationship between diversity on executive teams and the likelihood of financial outperformance strengthened over time.?

A large part of that success comes from the incorporation of diverse ideologies.?

“When you put a group of people together that have diversity of thought and can bring different ideas and perspectives to problem-solving, strategic planning, and any other initiatives, the outcomes tend to be better,” said Unlocked Achievement founder and diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant Logan Gaskill. “If you have a group of people that all think the same, you don't challenge ideas as much, or you see things the same way and things can be missed.”

When you’re looking for a new role, it may be tough to identify at first glance which companies make diversity and inclusion a priority.

So, I chatted with Boyce, Gaskill, diversity recruitment trainer and career coach Jennifer Tardy, workplace and equity consultant Minda Harts, and Diverse & Engaged CEO Dee Marshall. They broke down why you should target employers who value diversity in the workplace, and how true diversity at work appears.

The Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace

Aside from profitability, diversity in the workplace can bolster innovation and team building, improve decision making, create more opportunities for professional growth and boost work culture.?

“At the end of the day we all go to work,” Boyce said. “Yes, we want to be fulfilled as individuals, but we also want to go somewhere where they're going to make money and we're going to be able to pay our bills.”

“So when the research and evidence show that the more diverse a company is the more successful and more profitable it is, it's a zero-sum game. If they work at a workplace that appreciates diversity, it's also going to be able to provide more benefits to them, both intangible and tangible.”

On the flip side, when a workplace isn’t diverse, it can affect employees significantly, particularly employees of color.?

“There’s been research done that speaks to an emotional tax that people of color have to pay when working in environments where there is a lack of diversity, [issues] like daily slights and microaggressions,” Marshall said.?

That further exemplifies why making sure your potential employer values diversity is key.

How to Determine if a Workplace Values Diversity

There are a few steps you can take to analyze if a company values diversity, and that doesn’t just include looking at their race and gender diversity.?

Diversity is broad. It includes everything from gender identity, sexual orientation, age, people who have served in the armed forces, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity and ability level, Boyce said.?

So, how will you know if a company is serious about it? Start by seeing if the company you’re interested in has an annual diversity report.

“If they have it, take a look at it and understand the work that they're doing,” Gaskill said. “There's also an opportunity to ask questions around leadership development, succession planning, talent development and what those processes look like in an organization.”?

Paying attention to whether workplace diversity and inclusion are in a company's top three objectives is also valuable, Marshall said. Check the number of resources they have assigned to diversity and inclusion. Ask whether diversity and inclusion are attached to bonuses and compensation.

Other things to note are if the diversity and inclusion head reports to the CEO, a budget line item dedicated for diversity and inclusion exists, and if that matches or exceeds the learning and development budget, Marshall said.

In addition, the products a company creates can also be a good indicator of diversity strength or lack thereof.?

“There are many downfalls of not having enough diversity, but one, in particular, we continue to see is leaders making business decisions for diverse groups who are not present in the room that affect those communities,” Harts said.

An example Harts cited was “missteps during months like Black History Month or Juneteenth” with products that end up offending diverse communities because of a “lack of diverse perspectives during strategy sessions.”

How to Ask About Diversity in the Workplace During an Interview?

Think about the diverse landscape you want to see at your next job before your interview.

“I find that job seekers aren’t as certain about why they are asking whether an employer values workplace diversity, and the more you begin to personalize the question, the more meaningful the answer will be to you,” Tardy said. “And it can help you decide if it is the workplace you desire.”

Ask yourself what you are seeking from a workplace that claims to value diversity.?

“Is it representation and seeing more people who look like you? Is it a feeling of psychological safety or belonging?” Tardy said. “Is it important to you to have a fair and equitable chance to be promoted?”

Those answers can help you get a clear picture of what you’re seeking. Then, you can use the information to generate questions about diversity for your potential employer.

“The workplace is shifting in the pandemic and everything we saw after the murder of George Floyd and societal injustice is creating an employee's market,” Boyce said. “[Job seekers] have the ability to be incredibly selective with where they work.”?

It is OK, Boyce said, to say, “Tell me where your CEO and leadership stand on diversity. How are you working to make sure employees can be their authentic selves? Do you value a difference in opinion and perspective in meetings?

“I think there are very small things that people can ask where they're not just flat out saying, ‘Tell me why only 2% of your senior leadership team is Black,’” Boyce continued. “They can softly get at whether this is an organization that's really going to value them and what they bring to the table.”

Once you have taken steps to do internal work and company research, you are equipped with what you need to determine whether an employer values diversity at a level that is attractive to you.?

(Editing by Todd Dybas)