Building an Inclusive Workspace: Duties of an HR Manager

Introduction

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace is one aspect that HR strives to maintain to create a welcoming atmosphere for employees. Looking at any modern business, it is evident how building an inclusive workplace can yield increased productivity and cultural harmony within the organization. Nurturing an inclusive environment that is unified and encourages an equitable culture falls under the many duties of an HR manager. This pushes them to perform to their full potential and be more collaborative and engaged with the organization.

As per workplace statistics presented by Builtin, diverse companies witness 2.5 times higher cash flow per employee. Furthermore, companies that embrace diversity and inclusion have shown an increase in revenue by 19%. However, conceiving the idea and timely implementing it are different things. By embracing inclusion and diversity, we mean there must be no differentiation between employees. The steady step towards creating an inclusive workplace is through appreciation and acceptance. Developing an integrative and harmonious employee environment coincides with the company’s profitability. 

Diversity and Inclusion – Why are they important?

Diversity is about differences among individuals, which can be in terms of ethnicity, culture or gender. At the same time, inclusion is the act of accepting these differences and appreciating one another. Job seekers nowadays look for a work environment where they are respected and valued when it comes to the duties of an HR manager. So it is one of the fundamentals of building an inclusive workplace for employees. 

When we look at an HR manager’s roles and responsibilities, their foremost duty is to take the lead in informing the people in the organization about how to build an inclusive environment. Below we will see why creating an inclusive environment is essential for any organization: 

• Cultural Competence:

  Cultural competence is the ability to interact with one another despite cultural differences. It involves mutual respect and understanding diverse cultures, beliefs, and norms. In an organizational setup, having cultural competence is essential to foster positive relationships and duties of an HR manager. 

• Scope for Creativity and Varied Perspectives:

  Employees can come up with multiple perspectives on a given situation with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This leads to a free flow of ideas, innovations and creativity.

• Improves Employee Retention:

  An inclusive environment that welcomes new ideas and gives employees a pedestal to prove their potential retains top-performing employees. This reduces turnover and builds a much stronger retention rate for the company.

  

• Enhances Employee Engagement:

  When employees find themselves in a position where their opinion is valued and addressed, it instantly makes them develop commitment towards the organization leading to better productivity. Furthermore, employee collaboration and active engagement can significantly boost the organization’s bottom line.

• Ensures a supportive and inclusive environment:

  Inclusivity and diversity at the workplace unite employees from various backgrounds in one common ground. It helps nurture differences, develop new perspectives, and support one another, further promoting belonging. 

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How can HR create an Inclusive environment? 

It is unimaginable what HR means in a company. Their responsibility covers the entire employee life cycle, ensuring every aspect of fostering an all-inclusive atmosphere to bring out their full potential to magnify the company’s profitability. Cultivating a supportive and tolerant workplace is one of the fundamental duties of an HR manager. 

Encouraging an inclusive environment promotes collaboration and sustainability among the employees. As per Glassdoor research, about 66% of job seekers look for a diverse workforce while considering job offers. This makes modern businesses focus more on securing an equitable atmosphere. But how does HR contribute to creating an inclusive environment? What are the duties of an HR manager or professional?

1. Diversity-Focused Recruitment Practices:

   Incorporating inclusive recruitment procedures is the root of building an inclusive workplace free from bias and partiality. Inclusive hiring can amplify the company’s perception and facilitate integration.

2. Actively take in Employee Feedback:

   Openness towards employee feedback is another aspect of fostering a healthy workplace culture that welcomes inclusion. Conducting surveys and feedback meetings can better understand employees’ feelings about the company and give insights on the duties of an HR manager.

3. Recognizing Employee Contribution:

   Addressing and recognizing employee contribution 8n the company again is one of the most eminent ways to validate employee diversity. Treating employees equally based on their performance and credit can motivate them to perform better. 

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4. Reviewing Employee Policies:

   Reconsidering employee policies and making necessary amendments in work arrangement modes or employee conduct can help identify any hindrances to implementing inclusion in the workplace. Furthermore, addressing and validating religious festivals can instil a sense of inclusion in advocacy to promote cultural diversity. 

5. Encourage Diversity Training for Employees:

   Diversity Training aims to bring awareness to the diversity that the company embraces. The approach mainly involves training employees to communicate effectively and engage with their peers to foster a positive workplace culture.

How is employee training and development necessary? 

Conclusion 

Implementing diversity and inclusion measures should be among the top preferences of any organization to realize what HR means in a company. Companies that actively welcome diversity and inclusion in all aspects have excellent team spirit and collaboration amongst peers. 

The more vital it is to safeguard an inclusive company culture, the more important it is to have all the relevant skill sets to keep nurturing healthy workplace culture.

Having a due understanding of the duties of an HR manager must be equipped with the new HR framework that demands aspirants to be dynamic and adept at catching up with changing trends. In such circumstances, pursuing an HR Analytics Course can be the soundest choice to upskill yourself with the required industry-demanded skills and climb the pinnacle of success!