5 Reasons Why Inclusive and Diverse Hiring is Good for Business

Diversity and inclusion are critical parts of building an organization that people want to work for. Far from a passing trend, it's a movement that can better your workplace and make your company more reflective of the real world—it's diverse!

When discussing diversity and inclusion, we often end with race, gender, and age. Yet, true diversity and inclusion also include individuals with intellectual, physical, sensory, educational, and developmental differences.

And as we enter B.C. Disability Employment Month, we want to highlight how inclusive and diverse hiring can benefit your company.

What is the difference between inclusive and diversity hiring?

Many workplaces are traditionally designed with able-bodied employees in mind. This can create barriers for disabled individuals in finding and sustaining meaningful employment.

And while some might view inclusive hiring as solely about creating opportunities, it's actually a way to build a more dynamic team by welcoming individuals with diverse abilities, experiences, and backgrounds.

The outcome is an inclusive environment where people of all abilities and backgrounds, including those with intellectual, physical, sensory, educational, or developmental differences, can contribute to your organization's success.

However, although inclusive employment and diversity hiring very much go hand-in-hand, they serve related but distinct purposes.

Inclusive employment

Inclusive employment involves creating an environment where all employees can fully participate and contribute to your organization's goals regardless of their abilities, educational background, or role in the company.

This means considering a person's qualifications and providing the necessary accommodations, support, and resources to help them succeed.

A genuinely inclusive work culture appreciates each person's unique perspective. It ensures that nobody is left out because of their differences.

Diversity hiring

Diversity hiring, on the other hand, focuses on the strategy behind recruiting candidates from a broad range of backgrounds, including race, gender, ability, age, and more.

While diversity hiring aims to create a workforce that reflects a variety of perspectives, inclusive employment takes it a step further by ensuring that all employees, regardless of their background or abilities, are supported and empowered to succeed.

5 Reasons to Adopt Inclusive and Diverse Employment Practices

As a business owner, you may wonder how inclusive employment can impact your bottom line or, hopefully, elevate your organization.

Here are five reasons it can improve overall business performance.

#1. Broaden your talent and break myths

One of the biggest myths surrounding inclusive hiring is the misconception that bringing individuals with intellectual, physical, sensory, or developmental differences onto a team means lowering the bar on talent or skill.

In reality, the opposite is true.

Inclusive and diverse teams bring varied perspectives and problem-solving approaches that can help your organization make better decisions, leading to greater success. 

When people who think differently come together, they challenge each other in ways that may be uncomfortable but are ultimately more effective. This diversity of thought pushes teams to question assumptions, test ideas, and select approaches that can be truly game-changing.

By challenging the outdated beliefs that a diverse and inclusive team can hinder business, your organization can tap into a broader pool of candidates, each with unique talents and perspectives, expanding your understanding of what talent truly looks like in a diverse workforce.

#2. Increase growth and innovation

One of the worst things you can do as a business owner is to surround yourself with people who all think, act, and feel the same. This type of hiring creates an echo chamber that can stunt growth, creativity, and innovation.

In fact, studies consistently show that diverse teams are more innovative, leading to breakthroughs that can help your business stay ahead of the competition.

Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation claims that

"Diverse employees bring new skills and perspective to a business – and can make it more welcoming to a broader range of customers. Hiring people with disabilities is good for business.”

When people with diverse abilities, backgrounds, and experiences work together, they offer fresh ways to solve problems, approach challenges, and develop new ideas.

#3. Better employee engagement and retention

According to Gallup, employees are more engaged when they feel their unique abilities and perspectives are respected and appreciated.

When people feel respected and appreciated, they are generally happier.

Happy employees typically enjoy their jobs more and are more likely to be invested in your company's success. Especially when they feel their contributions matter. Cultivating a work environment where people are happy and contributing creates a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging encourages them to stick around longer, which translates to lower recruitment costs for you.

Employees who feel appreciated also tend to be more productive and collaborative, creating a positive cycle that benefits your entire organization.

An inclusive workplace is one where people don't just want to work—they want to stay and thrive. It's truly a win-win for everyone!

#4. Improved brand reputation

Consumers are more conscientious now compared to even a few years ago. In fact, 64% of consumers and clients say they prefer to support businesses that stand for something meaningful.

For this reason, people are more likely to trust and stay loyal to a company that actively embraces diversity and inclusion.

They want to support companies that care about more than just profits. And they want those companies to be transparent about their values and how they follow through on them.

Showing that your company is committed to creating opportunities for everyone can improve your reputation and attract consumers and collaborators who share those values. This can lead to greater customer loyalty and more long-term success.

#5. Increased productivity

As a business owner, expressing concern about increased costs from inclusive hiring is fair. However, studies show that, on average, the cost of providing suitable accommodations for individuals with different abilities is $500 or less.

Simple adjustments, like offering flexible work hours, using adaptive technology, or providing alternative communication tools, can improve overall workflow for everyone and increase your entire team's productivity.

For example, flexible work arrangements can benefit disabled employees or those with neurodiverse conditions like ADHD. They can also help employees with varying work styles or personal commitments. Similarly, adaptive technology that makes a task easier for one person might streamline processes for the entire team.

When you prioritize accessibility, you create an environment where everyone can do their best work.

Thoughtful adjustments can lead to big improvements in productivity and efficiency across the board. This inclusive approach ensures that everyone in your organization is valued for their contributions and has the support to succeed to their full potential.

Discover the benefits of inclusive hiring

Inclusive hiring is more than just a positive initiative—it's a smart business move.

By creating a workplace that welcomes and supports individuals with different abilities, your organization can tap into a broader talent pool, boost innovation, and strengthen employee engagement.

These benefits can transform your team by increasing productivity, creativity, and overall success.

If you're ready to explore the benefits of inclusive hiring, our Employment Services program can help. Our team is here to guide you through the process, providing the support and resources you need to create an inclusive workplace.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist in finding suitable candidates and building a more inclusive future for your business.