Leveraging Remote Work to Promote Diversity and Inclusion

Remote work is the new normal for many tech companies. It is slowly, but surely, paving its way into other industries.

Remote work is at the same time, the key to having a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Companies that successfully implement inclusivity in their diverse teams benefit significantly. It allows them to learn and grow from different perspectives, experiences, and knowledge the diverse team brings.

So, let’s see how you can combine diversity, inclusion, and remote work to create excellent teams that work well together.

How does remote work help promote diversity and inclusion?

A recent study from Wharton that aimed to answer this question came back with a very interesting result. The research tested the many job postings for different positions at a tech company. At first, the job positions were in-office. Then, they offered the same positions but remotely.

This single change showed interesting results. Remote positions saw a 17% increase in total applicants. It also saw a 33% increase in underrepresented minority applicants. Fifteen percent more female applicants applied for remote positions than in-office ones.

While the numbers are not drastic, the difference should be something to consider if you want to hire a diverse team. Remote work, together with a good EOR service can help you onboard people globally. This is an easy way to create diversity by hiring from different cultures. Plus, if you want to create a truly diverse workforce, offering remote work seems to make the difference.

Why does the remote option create more job applicants?

The difference between the numbers can be explained through the pros of remote work. It offers greater flexibility in both time and location. Remote work has also made face-to-face interactions rare. This may explain why people are more comfortable with this work arrangement. Let’s get into more details.

Location flexibility

Location flexibility is usually the most important aspect of remote work. Some appreciate it as they get the opportunity to travel and work from anywhere in the world. For others, merely the option to work from home is worth taking a significant pay cut when switching jobs.

In either case, the ability to work from anywhere allows people to have more flexibility in where they work. Remote work solves the issue of the high cost of living in big cities. It allows your employees a better work-life balance by reducing the commute. It also allows you to hire anyone, regardless of where they live.

Time flexibility

Time flexibility is another reason why your employees might prefer remote work. While many prefer the regular 9-5, others might need more control over their time in the day. This is most important to parents with young children and other types of caregivers in your workforce.

It may be hard to communicate with your team if everyone sets their own schedules. However, offering remote work will help you attract top talent.

Removed face-to-face interaction

Some of your employees will be more comfortable avoiding the office and the inherent bias that comes with it. If your employees faced past discrimination, they might avoid in-office jobs.

This is why remote work, and working on creating inclusive workplaces even with your remote team, is beneficial. Providing them with an option to avoid this can help them feel more at ease than they would be in an in-office environment.

Why is diversity important?

Diversity in a team means having people with different backgrounds, skills, and perspectives. This variety can bring many benefits to your workplace. When companies focus on diversity, they create a more inclusive environment and gain a competitive edge. Diverse teams are often more innovative and better at solving problems. Here’s why diversity is so important in the workplace.

Helps attract top talent

Having a diverse workplace will help you attract top talent from all over. People want to work in places where they feel valued and included, no matter their background. When you show you care about diversity, your job posts will appeal to a wider range of job seekers. This means you can choose from the best candidates available.

A diverse team also shows that a company is forward-thinking and open-minded. This reputation can make your company more attractive to talented individuals. Everyone wants to be a part of a supportive and dynamic work environment. So, by promoting diversity, you can build a stronger, productive, and skilled team.

Improves team performance

Diverse teams often perform better because they bring different ideas and perspectives to the table. When people from various backgrounds work well together, they can solve problems more creatively. This variety in thinking helps your company come up with innovative solutions that a more homogeneous group might not think of.

Also, a diverse team is usually better at understanding and meeting the needs of a diverse customer base. They can offer you insights and solutions that resonate with different groups of people. It leads to better products and services. So, diversity improves both overall team performance and customer satisfaction.

Improve financial performance

Companies that embrace diversity often see better financial results. Diverse teams can make better decisions, which leads to improved business outcomes. Overall, companies with diverse leadership are more likely to have above-average profitability.

As mentioned before, a diverse workforce can help you tap into new markets. By knowing different cultures and preferences, team members can create products that appeal to a wider audience. This leads to increased sales and market share, boosting your company's financial performance.

How to promote diversity and inclusivity with remote teams

So, promoting diversity and inclusivity is crucial, especially with remote teams. But, when everyone works from different locations, it’s easy for people to feel left out or misunderstood.

With the right approach from the company's leadership, remote work can also help bring people together. By focusing on diversity and inclusion, you create a stronger, more supportive team.

Here’s how you can make sure your remote team is both diverse and inclusive.

Work to highlight and remove bias

Bias can sneak into decisions without people even realizing it. To promote diversity and inclusivity, it’s important that you actively look for and remove any biases that might exist.

This can start by reviewing how you hire new team members. Are there certain backgrounds or experiences that are unfairly favored? You can use tools like blind resume reviews to help make sure everyone gets a fair chance, no matter where they come from.

It’s also important to think about how you assign tasks and opportunities. Everyone should have a fair shot at taking on important projects, not the same few people. You can help create an inclusive, valued environment. To do this, check in regularly and fairly distribute work.

Recognize awareness, cultural, and religious holidays

One way to make everyone on your remote team feel included is by recognizing a variety of cultural and religious holidays. This shows respect for different backgrounds and makes people feel seen. For example, you can acknowledge holidays that are important to team members during meetings. Or, you can take it a step higher and acknowledge it in company announcements.

You can also encourage team members to share their cultural practices and holidays. This helps everyone learn more about each other and builds a more inclusive environment. When you show that you value all cultures and beliefs, you create a space where everyone feels comfortable and respected.

Diversity and inclusion training for employees

Diversity and inclusion training is a great way to teach everyone about the importance of being inclusive. This training can help team members understand the challenges that different people face. It also gives them the tools to be more supportive of one another.

Training should cover topics like recognizing unconscious bias, being respectful of different perspectives, and creating a welcoming environment. The goal is to make sure that everyone on the team knows how to contribute to an inclusive workplace. Regularly offering these sessions will help your team grow in their support of diversity.

Have clear diversity and inclusivity policies

Having clear diversity and inclusivity policies is essential for setting expectations. These policies should explain what your company values and how you plan to support a diverse and inclusive team. Your policy should include guidelines for hiring and ways to support employees from different backgrounds. It should also cover steps to take if someone feels excluded or discriminated against.

It’s important that these policies are not just written down but also communicated to everyone on the team. Make sure new hires understand them, and revisit them regularly with your entire team. This keeps everyone on the same page and reinforces your commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Ensure equal pay and equal growth opportunities

Equal pay and growth opportunities are key to making sure everyone on your team feels valued. If people think their background leads to lower pay and fewer opportunities, it can cause resentment and lower morale. To prevent this, regularly review salaries and promotion practices to ensure fairness.

Providing equal opportunities also means making sure that everyone has access to the same resources and support. Ensure all team members can access mentoring, training, and networking tools. This helps create a level playing field where everyone can succeed.

Write inclusive job ads

The first step in building a diverse team is attracting a wide range of applicants, and inclusive job ads are crucial for this. When writing job ads, use language that is welcoming to all genders, races, and backgrounds. Avoid words that might unintentionally discourage certain groups from applying.

It is also important to clearly state that your company values diversity and inclusivity. This can encourage more people from different backgrounds to apply. By making your job ads inclusive, you help ensure that your applicant pool is diverse from the start.

Get feedback from employees

One of the best ways to improve diversity and inclusion is by getting feedback from your team. Employees can offer valuable insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. Regularly ask for their thoughts through surveys, meetings, or one-on-one conversations.

When you receive feedback, take it seriously and make changes where needed. This shows your team that you are committed to creating a more inclusive workplace. By actively listening to your employees, you can build a stronger, more diverse team that feels heard and respected.

FAQs:

Is remote work a diversity and inclusion issue?

Yes, remote work can affect diversity and inclusion. It offers opportunities for people from different backgrounds to join the workforce. However, it also requires careful planning to make sure everyone feels included and supported.

What are the benefits of remote work for DEI?

Remote work can help companies hire people from diverse locations and backgrounds. It supports flexible work. This helps people with different needs work better. Overall, it can create a more inclusive environment.

How to promote diversity and inclusion in the remote workplace?

To promote remote diversity and inclusion, ensure fair hiring. Everyone should have access to the same opportunities. Foster open communication. Build a supportive culture where all employees feel valued and connected. Providing training and resources can also help.