In any type of industry or organization, diversity is a great thing. When all kinds of people come together, the pool of knowledge and experience becomes much wider, which benefits the organization. Furthermore, diverse workplaces can help make all employees feel seen and less alone. They also promote greater acceptance, tolerance, and understanding among employees.
Diversity is particularly important in the healthcare industry. Healthcare professionals serve all types of people, so they should be made up of all types of people. However, diversity rarely happens by chance. Instead, medical hiring managers and other high-level professionals need to take specific, targeted steps to build a more diverse workforce.
Share Your Desire For Diversity
Wanting more diversity is a great first step, but you also have to make your desire for diversity known. Make diversity, equity, and inclusion some of your organization’s main values, and don’t be afraid to publicize those values. You can include your values in marketing materials, job postings, and other prominent places. When individuals, including and especially prospective employees, see that diversity matters to you, they may be more likely to share your job postings or apply, particularly if they come from non-majority backgrounds themselves.
Of course, you also need to let your hiring personnel know that you are actively working toward a more diverse workforce. Emphasize inclusive hiring practices. Also, educate these professionals on how to find more diverse candidates, how to be welcoming and engaging to potential employees, and how to talk about diversity and its importance to the organization in positive, sensitive ways.
Make Everyone Feel Included And Valued
As you work toward a more diverse workforce, take steps to make the workplace more welcoming and accommodating for everyone. Start by thinking about the unique needs of current employees or of the types of employees you hope to have in the future. For example, if your workplace is not fully handicap accessible or only meets the minimum accessibility standards, take steps to further improve accessibility. If you have an on-site cafeteria or other dining options, ensure you’re catering to all types of dietary restrictions. The more you do to accommodate the needs of all people, the more likely you’ll be to attract diverse employees.
Actively Seek Out Diverse Employees
The best way to make things happen is through old-fashioned action and effort. So, if you want more diverse employees, go out and find them. You could participate in job fairs at local colleges and universities or in your community and surrounding communities. You could also offer internships and mentoring programs to help build connections with and pathways for diverse individuals. When you put in the work to bring in diverse employees, you can’t help but see results.
Promote And Celebrate Existing Diversity
As your workplace becomes more diverse, remember to celebrate and honor that diversity. After all, that’s the best way to retain your employees and continue enjoying a diverse workforce. Fun team-building activities that bring everyone together are a great option.
You can also show your commitment to diversity by acknowledging Black history month, pride month, and other events that celebrate people for who they are. Honoring lesser known holidays and sharing information about diverse cultural events that are happening in your community can be helpful as well. There are all kinds of ways to promote and encourage diversity, openness, and a culture of acceptance.
Diversity matters greatly in the medical field. Thus, you should do your part to create a diverse workforce and a more diverse, accepting world in general. Luckily, these strategies can help you do just that. If you act on them, they’re sure to pay off in meaningful ways.
