According to Sandra Henke, Group Head of People and Culture at Hays, flexible working aids in achieving better workplace diversity and should be implemented early in the recruitment stage.
Instead of being an optional working practice, flexible working has long been associated with mothers balancing childcare with work or recognised as an employee privilege that has to be earned through hard work and years of service.
To make a business truly inclusive, all employees must be offered flexibility, with “family friendly” policies taking on the role of “female friendly” policies in breaking down biases.
Flexible organisations will engage and retain their employees better while developing a larger talent pool. A diverse and inclusive organisation will offer flexible working at the point of hire rather than later in employment.
Recruitment experts say that to ensure the proper implementation of flexible working options within organisations, investment in effective communication of different working practices is necessary.
Managers and leaders spearhead the advancement of under-represented demographics in the workplace and thus, they must be properly informed about their organisation’s offerings, actively promote it to professionals and lead by example.
Having one’s employers discussing available working options helps in the recruitment and retainment of a diverse and inclusive workforce. The right job can transform a person’s life, the right person can transform a business.
Organisations excluding certain members of the workforce do nothing but limit their own talent pool and strangle the diversity of thought.
Having balanced, well-managed teams benefit businesses as they strengthen the foundations for a broader talent pool and encourage the generation and exchange of ideas and experiences between colleagues and customers.
With such workplace diversity and inclusion, employee loyalty, trust and longevity will improve tremendously and benefit the business in the long run.
The business will be able to not only emerge stronger but will also be more productive with a widened talent pool.
This article first appeared in Hays recruiting experts worldwide