Benefits of Creating a Diverse Workplace
There’s no better time than the present to discuss the issue of diversity in the workplace. Not only is promoting diversity the right thing to do, it is actually good for business. Building a team with a variety of skills and perspectives makes for a more productive and friendly workplace. Below are the top reasons why cultivating diversity in the workplace is important.
Boosted Creativity
Diversity in backgrounds and perspectives makes for differences in ideas. Companies with the most creative energy employ and listen to employees of all generations, genders, races, religions, abilities, etc. And more creativity links to higher returns; according to a 2017 report, companies in the bottom 25 percent tier in diversity rankings were least likely to net above average financial returns.
Improved Patient Understanding
Your patients come to you from all walks of life; don’t you think they’d appreciate feeling understood? When a provider, or even the front desk staff, shares commonalities with your patients, you’ll establish more genuine relationships, leading to increased return from patients. Companies are starting to realize this, with half of employers surveyed by LinkedIn reporting that they focus on diverse hiring in order to best represent their customers.
Better Employee Retention
Diverse, inclusive workplaces are desirable, which means you’ll attract more (and better) applicants. In a 2014 study by Glassdoor, two-thirds of job applicants considered diversity to be an important aspect of deciding where to work, especially for women, racial minorities and veterans.
Faster Decision Making
Not only are ideas more creative when you have a diverse workplace, but decisions are typically made more efficiently, according to a study by Cloverpop. In fact, diverse teams make decisions twice as fast with half the meetings than non-diverse teams. Unfortunately, non-inclusivity is the norm, with all-male teams making about 38 percent of decisions in a typical large company.
How does your company cultivate diversity in the workplace? Share in the comments below.