Why we need more diversity in Recruitment and Human Resources

Under the 2010 Equality Act, people at work are supposed to be treated equally, regardless of their backgrounds and identities. At work, what should be important are skills, qualifications and performance. But all of us have first-hand experience of jobs and organisations where this is not the case. Even in 2019, organisations are still failing BAME workers, for example. And the same goes for workers in other diverse categories, such as LGBT+ workers, women, and people with disabilities. If you're committed to working somewhere dedicated to inclusion and diversity, have a look at the VERCIDA jobs directory.

Social networks

There are many different hiring processes, from online applications to traditional CVs. Some firms even use puzzles and games to recruit! But in the vast majority of industries, there are plenty of barriers for those from a diverse background. Social networks still play a huge role in hiring. Many jobs are filled by people known to those who already work there. This bakes bias in. Hiring mostly on referral, a firm of mostly white people can tend to hire other white employees. In a racially stratified society white people tend to know mostly other white people. And so the story goes on. The same goes for other strands of diversity.

Breaking down barriers

Good human resources and recruitment practices can help overcome these tendencies. Many strategies can be applied. One is ‘blind recruitment,’ taking any identifying information off CVs to avoid unconscious bias being triggered. Non-Western names, indications of gender, and other information that can provoke bias can be removed. But if it’s largely straight, white, cisgender men making the final decisions, this can perpetuate the vicious cycle of bias. While anti-bias strategies are certainly to be welcomed, there’s no replacement for diverse representation in these crucial decision-making roles. If you're looking for jobs where you make a real difference in an inclusive company, check out our available roles