Recruit and retain more diverse workforce?

Answer 1

Recruiting a diverse workforce There are a number of steps you can take in order to successfully recruit a diverse workforce. Have an equality and diversity policy An equality and diversity policy should explain your business' stance on diversity and show how you intend to achieve a diverse workplace. It should, for example, clearly state that your business accepts Job Applications from all parts of the community. Once you have such a policy, you should then: publicise it to your staff and job applicants follow it as part of your recruitment process See our guide on how to set up employment policies for your business. Ensure job adverts are non-discriminatory and promote diversity Check that your job advertisements and job descriptions do not exclude anyone from applying because of their race, religious belief, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or cultural background. Note that third-party publishers, eg newspapers are liable if they publish discriminatory advertisements. You can target your recruitment at certain groups by, for example, having a job advertisement that states you are positive about diversity and welcome applications from people from minority ethnic groups, older workers, disabled people, etc. Make reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants and employees The law requires employers of all sizes to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Adapt your methods of recruitment to allow disabled people to apply for jobs and attend interviews. You may need to consider reasonable adjustments to job applications or selection processes if they would otherwise put a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage. Download a guide to employing disabled people from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) website (PDF) - Opens in a new window. You can also see our guide on recruiting and employing disabled people. Advertise jobs beyond just people you know Avoid recruiting solely from among friends, family, business associates, etc. This may result in always taking on the same type of employee - and may therefore be indirectly discriminatory. Instead you should post job adverts where the wider public can see them, eg in local newspapers, on Jobcentre Plus' internet jobbank, and on recruitment websites, etc. Allow flexible working Consider flexible working practices. If you allow certain jobs to be done part time for example, more people may be interested in applying for them. See our guide on the flexible working - the law and best practice. You can also use our interactive tool to investigate what kind of flexible working will best suit your employees and you.