Our Learner Survey Report discovered that 40% of people are looking to leave their jobs over the next year. Yes, that’s right, 2 in 5 of your best and brightest will most likely leave for another opportunity. But how can you make them stay?
Times have changed
People are seeking purpose-led culture in their work: a place where your team come to feel part of a bigger purpose; a place where they can contribute to making a difference beyond their day-to-day role; a place where they feel connected and that they belong.
We’re also witnessing a generational shift, with newcomers Gen Z now making up 25% of the global workforce. A generation more inclined to make decisions close to their values, 31% of Gen Z choose to work for employers that proactively prioritise diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
Supporting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) in your workplace is critical to attracting and retaining the best people, because ED&I brings a tonne of benefits for employees and organisations.
Belonging
75% of employees feel it’s vital that their company promotes workplace ED&I. And why shouldn’t they? Working in an environment that promotes ED&I can help your employees to feel a sense of belonging and become happier within their roles.
Belonging is what allows employees to be their authentic selves, without the fear of any discrimination or different treatment. It enables the workforce to feel valued within their organisation, and know their work makes an impact on the success of the company, no matter the differences between team members.
Happier employees are 13% more productive in their day-to-day roles, promoting creativity, and in turn, higher chances of success for the business.
Innovation
Your people are your most important stakeholders.
They’re your innovation – the people behind the success of your business.
So, why restrict their creativity?
A diverse workforce offers a variety of perspectives that support breakthroughs in creative and innovative ideas. That’s why more diverse teams can outperform by 46%, and have 19% higher innovation revenue.
But diverse workforces can only thrive if you support inclusivity within your workforce, so create an environment where employees won’t feel the need to conform. 83% of employees revealed they felt empowered and engaged in the workplace when they believed their company fostered an authentically inclusive culture.
So, you know your culture needs ED&I – but how do you implement it?
Act on feedback
The only way you can truly understand what your people want is to listen to them, and most importantly, act on the feedback they provide. Hold forums or anonymous surveys to ask, “How can we better promote ED&I in our workplace?” The more confident your people feel about your values and culture, the more confident they are in you as an employer, encouraging long-term commitment.
Create a fair recruitment process
You want somebody for the job because, well, they’re perfect for the job and team. That is what truly matters. Create a fair and inclusive recruitment process by removing gendered language, irrelevant personal details, and ensure your job advertisements clarify that opportunities are open to all suitably qualified applicants. This way, you’ll get a more diverse candidate pool, helping build highly diverse teams.
Encourage learning
Every day we’re learning, often without realising. It’s how we grow and it’s how we transform to support positive outcomes.
Diverse workforces are not only great for innovation and belonging, but for creativity and learning that we gain from collaborating with peers. As an employer, source courses to encourage further learning. Our ED&I course gives your teams a greater understanding of the importance of ED&I in the workplace, and the confidence to be proactive and play a positive role both in the workplace and in society.
Make your culture count
It’s never been more important to have a strong company culture that promotes ED&I. Not only does it encourage everyone to play a positive role, but it also creates a more welcoming environment for all. And that’s where people want to work. A place where they belong, and a place where they can thrive.
Looking to empower and upskill your employees with online learning? Talk to an expert to find out more about our interactive and engaging eLearning courses.
Written by Claire Moloney Claire is an enthusiastic and meticulous content writer whose passion is to support growth and continual learning for everyone.
