A new report from job board Monster has found that almost two-thirds of employees (62 per cent) would turn down a job offer if it came from an organisation with a culture that didn’t support diversity. For the second part of Monster’s “Future of Work” survey, undertaken in conjunction with independent research firm Dynata, Monster asked over 3,000 recruitment, talent acquisition, and HR professionals about their views on the importance of embracing difference in order to attract talent.
This follows findings in the first part of Monster’s multipart “Future of Work” survey released in April into the growing challenge of finding the right candidates. That survey found that UK hiring plans are up while skill shortages are greater. 87 per cent of UK companies say they’re finding it hard to fill positions, with a third feeling the skills gap is widening. Companies across the UK told Monster that recruiters have to search harder and wider for talent, unlocking untapped potential to fill the skills gap.
Claire Barnes, Monster’s chief human capital officer, commented: “The world of recruitment, like the rest of society, has faced a reckoning in recent years with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) pushed to the fore. Our survey found that nearly a quarter of organisations already include diversity, equity and inclusion in recruitment practices. In addition, 30 per cent are seeking to encourage greater diversity in leadership positions.”
She added, “But diversity isn’t what you say; it’s about what you do – so it’s encouraging to see that 40 per cent of businesses are building DEI into recruitment processes and strategies. It isn’t just the right thing to do ethically – it benefits the company, the workforce, and the communities we operate in. It’s an ongoing task, and companies recognise they have more to do. However, it’s concerning that just 19 per cent of employers have strategies to engage the neurodiverse. It’s an area that needs focus and action for employers, or they risk missing out on those with unique talents.”
Monster defines effective diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies as taking active steps to ensure that people with different ethnicities, genders, abilities, cultures and personalities have representation, opportunity and support in the face of historical and structural bias.
The survey finds that many organisations are ensuring they communicate HR policies on inclusiveness, so that applicants can understand the culture of a potential new workplace even before they consider applying for a role. According to the research, globally, 86 per cent of employees consider diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) critically important. Employers are taking the hint, with 45 per cent believing that building a diverse workforce is a priority to retain existing talent and attract new employees.
