4 ways inclusivity and diversity can lead to employee retention

In many organisations, HR teams aim to retain employees by offering basic perks. These can include company events, a cycle-to-work scheme and free refreshments for instance. However, if a person does not feel comfortable in their role due to a lack of recognition and inclusion, then this person will take the first opportunity they get to leave. Ensuring your organisation has a strong community that celebrates diversity is a great start to building a workforce that feels comfortable, heard and valued. This will help you to retain staff by boosting their self-esteem, offering a sense of belonging, increasing accessibility, celebrating differences and highlighting that anyone can progress in the business.

The importance of retaining employees

There are so many reasons why retaining employees is important, for both staff members and the business. It's not only about minimising damages to a business when employees leave, but it helps to ensure performance is boosted in many areas. One key point is that it helps to reduce costs. Recruiting and onboarding can be expensive, especially when you add up the money spent on advertising, interviewing and training. Keeping your workforce happy in their roles is a great way to minimise these costs.

Another reason to find ways to retain employees is because experienced staff members have invaluable experience, knowledge, strong relationships and skills that a new starter could take months to develop.

How does inclusivity and diversity support employees?

Provides a sense of belonging

Often the reason why a person leaves a job is that they don't feel as though they belong there. By promoting genuine inclusion and diversity, organisations can contribute to making employees feel more comfortable and safe in their working environment, in turn giving them more of a reason to stay in the workplace. Having to mask elements of yourself during the working day can really take a toll on confidence, work performance, motivation and desire to progress. However, when there is more diversity, there is a larger sense of belonging and connection to a business.

Ensures mutual respect for everyone's differences

Diversity relates to a range of human attributes including race, age, culture, nationality, religion, disability along with many more. A successful workplace is one that appreciates all differences and is seen as an advantage to the business. When there is a mutual respect for everyone's differences, people will feel more confident in their role, this is also reflected in a company's culture. A positive company culture that celebrates diversity is also seen as more attractive to outsiders, encouraging them to join the business.

Progression

Top-down diversity highlights to your employees that they can progress within the company. When employees have a long-term goal and can see a future for themselves within the business, it gives them more reason to stay within their role, knowing that they can move up and progress. Seeing a truly diverse leadership team, emphasises that an employer is committed to creating an inclusive workforce, creating progression opportunities for high-achievers, irrespective of their background.

As an employeer it's important to ensure you promote a diverse and inclusive workforce, which will in turn boost retention and make sure you withhold talent.

Discover more with our Inclusive language guide: Creating a diverse workplace community