Protests against systemic racism and George Floyd’s death have sparked discussions about diversity among all corners of society, including in the workplace. Although businesses are prohibited from discriminating against employees by law, job seekers want companies to take the extra step and promote their dedication to a diverse workplace.
New research from business news and how-to website The Manifest reveals that most job seekers (70 percent) want to work for a company that demonstrates a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“It doesn’t cost any money to have somebody on your HR team go through your job descriptions and … create a statement that says ‘At this company, we want to be inclusive and promote belonging,’” said Jes Osrow, talent development expert at JOSROW Consulting, in a news release.
Businesses, however, must act on their commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB).
“The biggest issue I’ve seen is the misuse of DEIB in the recruitment process and it not being an actuality in the workplace,” Osrow said. “Take that step of humility and say ‘We’re not perfect, but here’s what we’re doing to achieve true diversity at our company.’”
Companies should promote job benefits relevant to employees working remotely
Many employees are still working from home as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, so businesses should focus on promoting the benefits applicable to remote work.
The top four benefits and perks businesses promote to attract job candidates are:
- Health insurance (67 percent)
- Paid time off (50 percent)
- 401(k) matching (50 percent)
- Flexible work options (33 percent)
A job posting should focus on benefits that employees can take advantage of while working remotely. Right now, they don’t care as much about in-office perks such as snacks and pet-friendliness.
“More than anything, COVID-19 has made me realize how badly I need a work-life balance,” job seeker Amanda Dexter said, according to the release.
Businesses must keep job listings up-to-date, especially during a struggling economy
Businesses come across poorly to candidates if they don’t update their job openings, especially when job seekers spend time applying to a role only to find out it’s not currently available.
Nearly all businesses (98 percent) promote open positions online, but it’s essential to share accurate information about available jobs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many companies have a hiring freeze.
When a position is closed, a business should immediately remove its posting on its website and job boards to deter others from wasting time to apply.
