How Celebrating Diversity Can Aid Employee Retention

Chezuba
August 18, 2022

In today’s rapidly changing world, companies that are willing and ready to adapt to new circumstances stand a much better chance of thriving than those who stick stubbornly to old ways of doing things. In the same way that diversity in broad categories like race, religion, and gender can make it easier for an individual to find friends, partners, and colleagues in any given setting, so too can diversity of thought and background help employees feel more connected to their company. 

Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever—and that benefits businesses. According to a recent LinkedIn survey, 72 percent of hiring managers say a candidate’s diversity would significantly impact their hiring decision. Additionally, the same study found that 78 percent of employees consider diversity when looking for new job opportunities. As we continue to see a rise in cultural awareness, businesses are responding by making efforts to embrace and celebrate diversity. 

This is why many businesses have begun implementing programs designed to celebrate diversity among their employees. From monthly networking events where people can meet others with common interests, to educational activities that expose workers to different cultural backgrounds, these efforts have been shown time and time again as effective means of increasing retention by reducing employee isolation in the workplace.

Why Diversity is Important in the Workplace

As we’ve discussed, celebrating diversity is a great way to boost employee morale and retention. But what are the other benefits of workplace diversity? Well, research has shown that companies that are more diverse are also more innovative. This happens for a few reasons: First, bringing together people who have different backgrounds and skills helps a business gain a wider perspective and see new ways of solving problems. Secondly, having an inclusive company culture encourages employees to feel more connected to their company, which makes them more likely to go the extra mile for the organization. And finally, it’s important to note that celebrating diversity goes beyond just acknowledging that people have different backgrounds. It also means bringing attention to underrepresented groups, like people with disabilities, or those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

How Celebrating Diversity Supports Employee Retention

There are many ways in which celebrating diversity supports employee retention. For one thing, celebrating diversity can make a company more attractive to job candidates. After all, people want to work for companies where they can feel comfortable being themselves. Building a welcoming culture will help a company avoid losing talented employees to competitors who offer a more inclusive environment. It’s true that celebrating diversity can be expensive. Some of the activities and events companies put on to mark their commitment to inclusivity can be quite costly. However, the expenses associated with these efforts are well worth it if they help the business retain valuable employees.

Showcasing Company Values Through Culture Events

Every company has a culture of its own. This is the collection of values, beliefs, and customs that make up the general feel of the workplace. Culture events are a great way to showcase the company’s culture to the employees. These events can be anything from potluck lunches to off-site retreats. You can also use these events to help employees form strong connections with one another. You can also use these events to help employees form strong connections with one another. These events can also be a great way to help employees learn about different cultures, provided that these elements are included in the event. For example, if you’re celebrating a company holiday like St. Patrick’s Day, you could use the opportunity to teach people about Irish culture and history.

Utilizing Internship Programs to Build Unity

If your company hosts an internship program, you can use it as a platform for building unity. For example, you could host social events or volunteer events for interns in your field to introduce them to other members of the community. And if you run a blog or have a presence on social media, you could use these as places to teach interns about different cultures and backgrounds. By hosting volunteer events and activities that embrace a multitude of cultures, you can help your interns feel more connected to their peers while also building relationships with people in the surrounding community. You can also use these events to help interns learn more about the company’s values, particularly if there are large cultural differences among your interns.

To Conclude

Celebrating diversity is more than just a nice thing to do. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, it becomes much easier to build relationships. Strong interpersonal connections make employees much less likely to feel isolated or unhappy in their jobs. For this reason, businesses should take time every year to celebrate their diversity. Doing so will not only help you attract more talent, but it will also make it easier for your workers to feel connected and happy with their jobs.

Corporate volunteering is a great way to familiarize your employees with the cultures and struggles of people from across nations. Chezuba is a virtual volunteering platform that has partnered with over 7000 nonprofits from 100+ nations to give your employees a chance to donate their skills for the good of society. Book a free demo to learn how Chezuba can help you engage your employee and expand their diversity horizons leading to higher employee retention.

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