We hear all the time about the impact diversity can have on an organization, from greater creativity to better problem-solving to enhanced productivity — even to higher revenues.  

McKinsey reports that diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time. And those decisions have a significant influence on financial performance. Companies in the top quartile for gender or racial and ethnic diversity are likelier to have financial returns above their national industry medians. 

But we rarely hear about cultivating diversity on HR teams. And that’s a big mistake — HR facilitates so much of the employee experience and sets the tone for the rest of the company. 

Prioritizing HR team diversity can dramatically improve hiring, onboarding, engagement, retention, and more. Keep reading to find out how. 

3 Ways HR Team Diversity Improves Organizational Outcomes 

Hiring a diverse HR team isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. HR touches every function in a business. Having greater representation in HR makes them more approachable, which, in turn, makes them more effective overall. Here’s how: 

1. Decreases groupthink 

We all carry biases — that’s unavoidable. But we can counteract those biases with exposure to new people and new ideas. 

A more diverse HR team is less likely to suffer from groupthink simply because it’s more likely to have varying viewpoints. Having many different perspectives and opinions can uncover important details and discussion points that wouldn’t have come up otherwise. 

Creating policies that take these nuances into consideration makes a workplace a better, more inclusive place for every employee. 

2. Improves recruitment 

Candidates are looking for diverse places to work. And if they’re not interacting with a diverse set of people from the get-go, they may assume that your organization doesn’t prioritize diversity — and who can blame them? 

Having a diverse HR team puts your company’s best foot forward. Highlighting the many kinds of people who work at your company and allowing candidates to ask them about their experiences gives potential employees a solid first impression, increasing your chances of converting them into your best employees. 

Even more importantly, having a diverse HR team also ensures that every candidate gets a supportive guide and voice in the hiring process, making them more likely to continue to the final round or even apply to other roles that may be a better fit for their skills and experience. 

3. Boosts engagement and retention 

If employees see people in HR that they recognize, they will probably feel more comfortable going to their HR business partner when they have a problem. If the HR business partner does a great job troubleshooting their issues, they’ll be even more inclined to reach out later on. 

Establishing this positive cycle early on helps HR be more proactive in employee engagement and retention. Employees will be more likely to fill out HR surveys, provide honest feedback, report suspicious activity, and share ideas for improving the company culture. The more data HR has to work with, the easier it is for them to brainstorm new programming that will have a true, measurable impact on the organization. 

If employees don’t feel like they have anyone who will listen and act on their concerns, they may not: 

• Participate in engagement activities 
• Offer feedback as willingly 
• Go to HR, doubting they’ll get the results they want and need 

Representation matters — it’s as simple as that. 

Grow Your HR Department 

Diversity in HR has an enormous impact on the employee experience. If employees work with people they like, who challenge their viewpoints, who make them better at their job, they’re probably going to enjoy their work a whole lot more. 

And that has cascading effects. If an employee enjoys their work, they’re more likely to be more productive for a longer period of time, which only benefits the organization. 

So, if you’re looking to jumpstart your search for diverse HR hires, look no further than Planet Professional. We specialize in attracting and retaining talent in HR and several other sectors like accounting, finance, and administrative functions. 

Get in touch with one of our talent experts today to share what you’re looking for and get a sense of how our services work. Your employees deserve it! 

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