Hiring a Diverse Workforce and Why Is It Important?

By Juliana M. Mosley-Williams

This article is a part of the March/April, Volume 35, Number 2, Audiology Today issue.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the lives of many, and subsequently revealed the health inequity pandemic that society has been forced to address over the past few years. Similarly, a third pandemic of racial and social unrest evolved as a result of a series of racially motivated murders at the hands of law enforcement and private citizens. 

The response led to nationwide and international protests, calling for justice and an end to racial profiling and discrimination. Companies, health-care systems, school districts, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher learning, and other employers also were pressured to produce their diversity numbers as a means of substantiating any claims of a diverse mission. Essentially, employees were seeking a more inclusive workplace and accountability from their employers beyond the performative statements that were being released with each racially motivated incident covered by national news.

Glassdoor, a website for workplace conversation and research, with a mission of radical transparency in making a positive workplace, conducted its 2020 Diversity Hiring Survey (online) with 2,745 U.S. adults between August 25 and August 31. Motivated by the racial unrest of 2020 and the increased interest in workplace diversity, the survey sought to determine the importance of diversity when people are job seeking and if employers are sufficient in fostering a diverse workforce (Glassdoor Team, 2021). 

The survey revealed that 76 percent of employees and job seekers report a diverse workforce is an important factor when evaluating companies and job offers. Given this finding, what factors should employers consider in hiring a diverse workforce?

Creating a culture of respect and inclusion is imperative, and setting the atmosphere begins with a mission.