How is the unprecedented global recognition of racism in 2020 going to help create diversity in the workplace in 2021.
As the world watches the George Floyd trial unfold, it has been argued that the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement amplified the awareness of bias and catapulted the need for action to the fore. As corporates rushed to pledge their allegiance to the movement and a singularly positive sense of unity reigned across the nations, how will this desire translate into active change and what can be done to eliminate bias and promote diversity in the workplace.
A plethora of articles have argued that diversity and inclusion will be in the top challenges for companies in 2021, but what is required is more than a policy change, it is suggested. An actual understanding and acknowledgement of bias in the recruitment process, unconscious or otherwise, is needed. Research has shown that one of the key areas that fall prey to unconscious bias is, ‘company fit’. This results in the same kind of people being recruited.
To combat this and restrict the influence of bias, it is key to have a diverse hiring team. The more diverse the team, the more inclusive the workforce will become and a recent study by The Wall Street Journal illustrates that companies that are more diverse and inclusive have competitive edge over their peers.
Another way of reducing bias during recruitment, is to ensure that candidates are measured by the same ‘yardstick’. To do this, the criteria by which they are measured needs to be skills and abilities based and role specific.
Bafta chair, Krishnendu Majumdar, speaking to The Guardian this week said that ‘the whole world changed last year and we wanted to step up.’ Given the criticism surrounding he lack of diversity last year, it is encouraging to hear influential people stand up for change. Majumdar continues by stressing that people do not want to, ‘be there because they’re from an underrepresented group. They just want the opportunity to have their work seen.’
The hauntingly beautiful voice of Celeste captivates our souls in the exit music for ‘The Chicago 7’, but it is her words that need to inhabit our minds.