Companies have carefully observed and implemented an inclusive workplace culture by being more open to job seekers from different backgrounds.
in the workplace leads to higher levels of productivity and performance.
They also noticed that job seekers started considering the work culture and environment on top of salary offers when they are looking for jobs.
JobStreet’s Global Talent Survey shows that more than 50 percent of Filipino job seekers will refuse to work for employers that do not align with their beliefs, which include diversity and inclusion.
Research also shows that having diverse talent in the workplace leads to higher levels of productivity and performance as well as improved employee retention rates.
Inclusivity within the workplace is not something that is nurtured overnight, said JobStreet country manager Philip Gioca.
It takes a whole organization—from leaders at the highest level to the junior team members to have a deeper understanding and commitment towards the brand values and culture and displaying authenticity and acceptance, he said.
“It starts from the top. Whatever the top tolerates, it is tolerated by the entire group. And so, what the top behaves that’s exactly how the members of the team and the company would behave,” said Gioca said.
The country’s leading job portal said a company’s policies and behaviors begin at the top level of management, and this helps establish corporate culture.
The role of the higher management, it said, is more than just making decisions that affect the whole organization. They also set the expectations for the way each employee treats one another.
Tolerating situations that negatively impact the members of the team affects the performance and success of the company, it said.
JobStreet recognized that as most companies are practicing hybrid or remote work setups, communication can be an issue because of language barriers and varying communication styles or preferences.
Gioca advised employers to maintain good communication in the workplace as it is integral in making inclusivity more genuine.
One way to address this, he says, is by utilizing a standard operating procedure. For instance, important announcements and updates are sent through emails, meetings are done virtually, quick task-related messages are sent to the team chat, and more.
JobStreet also encourages companies to conduct catchups, regular virtual activities, and town hall meeting with the employees to enhance company culture.
With the workplace becoming more diverse, JobStreetalso advises hirers to take employee differences into consideration when implementing inclusivity, as there can be activities or gestures that can be normal to one candidate but are offensive to another.
Employers are encouraged to conduct sensitivity trainings, especially for those who actively hire candidates that are from another race, with different gender identities, have disabilities, working moms, among others.
Gioca said adopting programs based on the needs of their employees also helps showcase the company’s sincerity in achieving inclusivity. One example is by assigning newly hired employees to peer mentors who can provide support for new members to adapt to the organization.
Gioca said workplace flexibility is also key to attaining inclusivity. Since the pandemic, hybrid working and flexible arrangements have introduced a new perspective of work.
Companies where people can stay in the office at their own pace at their own time will enable employees to work in a way that best suits their needs. Ensuring those who work from home have the same benefits and opportunities as those working in the office also generates a more inclusive workplace.
To make hybrid work efficient, JobStreet recommends having regular alignment meetings to make sure that the team is on the same page and to also fast-track decision-making within a diverse organization.
“Inclusivity means it’s not just allowing people to be tolerated but it’s important that people are valued and appreciated because many things can happen in diverse teams. You won’t believe what they can do, and they can reach impossible things together,” Gioca said.