Equitable recruitment involves adopting measures to support diversity and inclusion within your organization and ensuring that no biases or discrimination occur during the hiring process. Employers are obligated, often through law, to cultivate a safe, inclusive workplace for all people. Achieving equitable recruitment frequently requires a change from bias-tinged language and criteria to neutral, job-relevant language and requirements when sourcing candidates.
Equitable recruitment is crucial as it displays a company's social responsibility in confronting systemic workplace inequalities related to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, and other marginalized groups. Apart from its ethical and legal aspects, building a diverse and inclusive team directly benefits your organization. Research indicates that diversity within teams enhances decision-making and productivity due to a mix of various backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Regulations and Organizations Promoting Equitable Recruitment
Several laws and organizations have emerged over the past six decades promoting workplace diversity. Familiarizing yourself and your organization's key personnel with these laws is vital:
- Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII): This legislation prohibits employment discrimination based on factors such as sex, race, color, and religion.
- Equal Pay Act of 1963: A part of John F. Kennedy's New Frontier Program, this act addresses gender-based wage disparities, making it illegal to pay different wages to men and women for similar work.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967: This act provides equal employment opportunities to anyone 40 years or older in the United States.
- Civil Rights Act of 1991: This legislation allows employees to sue their employers for discrimination and extends the right to sue for sexual harassment or discrimination.
- Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (Title II): This legislation forbids discrimination of applicants or employees based on genetic information.
Establishing Equitable Recruitment Practices
For your organization to adopt equitable recruitment practices, consider:
- Performing an Equitable Recruitment Audit: Start by conducting an internal audit to pinpoint any current deficits in your hiring process. Compare your findings with federal, state, and local laws and discuss these with your stakeholders and team.
- Creating a List of Equitable Recruitment Procedures: Based on your audit findings, develop procedures that address your hiring process's current and potential future shortcomings. Document these procedures and discuss them thoroughly with your hiring managers.
Maintaining Fair Hiring in Your Organization
As part of your hiring procedures, consider the following strategies:
Building a Culturally Diverse Team through a Welcoming Workplace Environment: A diverse workplace is crucial for attracting a broad range of talent. Consider recognizing more holidays in your company's time-off policy and establish safe spaces for discussions about current events and commemorative days. This encourages open communication and acknowledgement of a wide variety of traditions. Such an environment promotes diverse viewpoints, fostering creativity, productivity, and innovation through collaboration.
Developing a Wide-Ranging Network: Your network's breadth can directly impact your organization's growth and success. Once you've built a diverse team, tap into your colleagues' networks for recruitment. If your own network is limited, consider utilizing larger, more established networks that can connect you with a diverse pool of talent who can contribute meaningfully to your organization.
Attracting a Diverse Customer Base: Companies that employ and retain a diverse workforce can engage with a broader customer demographic. A varied customer base can enhance employee retention, as employees appreciate seeing their organization support diverse communities. This creates a beneficial cycle that perpetuates diversity and inclusion.
Inclusive Language in Job Posts: Language is a powerful tool in attracting candidates. Whether a potential applicant learns about a vacancy from a contact or an online posting, the way the job and company are described can significantly influence their interest. Opt for neutral, non-gender-specific language - replace terms like ‘rockstar’ with the job title, such as ‘engineer’, or terms like 'assertive' or ‘dominant’ with 'cross-functional leader'. Similarly, when describing the tasks of the ideal candidate, use "they" or "you." For example, "As Project Manager for XYZ, you will be responsible for supporting the vision and strategy of the team."
Inclusive Qualifications in Job Posts: When preparing a job description, it's important to distinguish between "nice-to-have" and "must-have" requirements. This distinction ensures you don't inadvertently dissuade qualified candidates from applying, as studies have shown women are less likely than men to apply unless they meet all listed requirements.
"Must-have" requirements are those that are absolutely necessary for the job. These typically include:
- Essential skills: These are the key skills the candidate needs to perform the job effectively. For example, for a programming job, proficiency in a specific coding language may be a must-have.
- Qualifications: These are the qualifications that are legally or practically required for the job. For example, for a medical doctor position, a medical degree and license to practice are must-haves.
- Experience: These are the minimum years or type of experience required to perform the job effectively. For instance, for a senior leadership role, several years of leadership experience in a similar industry may be a must-have.
On the other hand, "nice-to-have" requirements are those that could enhance the candidate's performance but aren't essential to doing the job. These may include:
- Additional skills: These are skills that could be beneficial but aren't crucial to the job. For example, in a programming job, experience with a secondary language that isn't essential for the job might be a nice-to-have.
- Extra qualifications: These are qualifications that could enhance the candidate's performance but aren't strictly necessary. For example, for a teaching job, a master's degree in education might be a nice-to-have, but not a must-have if the candidate already holds a bachelor's degree and the necessary teaching credentials.
- Extra experience: These are types or years of experience that could enhance the candidate's performance but aren't strictly necessary. For example, international experience might be a nice-to-have for a role that doesn't specifically require it.
To create a more inclusive job description, consider eliminating the "nice-to-have" requirements from your job postings. This action can encourage a wider pool of candidates, including more women and female-presenting individuals, to apply. Instead, you might mention these preferred skills during the interview as areas for potential growth or development within the role.
Remember, a great candidate can learn additional skills on the job, so don't let the "nice-to-haves" deter potentially perfect fits from applying. By focusing on the "must-haves," you can attract a wider, more diverse range of candidates who can bring a wealth of experience and perspectives to your organization.