Long reads

Is authenticity the next big workplace essential?

Kirstie McDermott

Kirstie McDermott

Senior Content Editor, Amply

Real world events influence how we see and experience our workplaces. For those at Twitter, questioning the direction of the organisation is likely to be at the top of their minds, as Elon Musk guts teams globally, and brings in ‘hardcore’ working practices for the employees who remain.

In the U.S., following the death of George Floyd in May 2020 and the resultant nationwide protests against systemic racism, discussions about race diversity in the workplace have been on the agenda.

Internationally, we have also seen changes in the way that we work as a result of the pandemic and how employers did and did not step up to support employees. For many workers, the response was not enough. The phenomenon of the ‘Great Resignation’ gathered steam as a direct consequence.

While this has had the biggest impact in America, the UK has also seen a seismic shift as workers leave their jobs in droves. A recent survey from PwC found that 18% of workers plan to continue the exodus, saying they "are very or extremely likely" to switch jobs within the next 12 months.

There are more drivers of employee dissatisfaction.

According to a 2021 Gartner study, the pandemic has shifted the expectations 50% of workers have towards their employers,. Most particularly, younger workers in the Millennial and Gen Z cohorts now expect companies and institutions they work for to be authentic forces for good.

Diversity and inclusion

What authenticity looks like for these employees is making sure that diversity and inclusion (D&I) is a priority. As Millennials are expected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2025, and Gen Z workers will be 30% of the workforce by 2030, companies need to step up.

This is particularly true when it comes to diversity and inclusion measures. Long considered ‘nice to have’ for a business, but for younger employees, it is much more than a box-ticking exercise. A company must be authentic in how it responds in its implementation.

That was confirmed by a recent poll by Gallup, which surveyed 13,085 employees about what was most important to them when deciding whether to accept a job. 42% said it mattered that “The organisation is diverse and inclusive of all types of people.”

Workers need to know that their employer will push D&I beyond mere gender quotas. Now, a workplace must ensure that everyone is accommodated and treated equitably. That goes for members of the LGBTQ+, minority, or religious communities, and those with neurodiversity or disabilities.

Companies must also ensure that they are offering access, choice, and opportunities to all workers.

The good news is that there are many companies making progress when it comes to D&I. We are taking a look below at five which are currently hiring and you can discover plenty more on the Finextra Job Board too.

Accenture

“We’re creating an accessible, inclusive environment where all our people can belong and thrive,” the professional services company said. Accenture’s areas of focus include gender, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, religion, persons with disabilities, and cross-cultural diversity.

Discover all open roles at Accenture here.

Salesforce

The world’s number one CRM platform, Salesforce has over 50,000 employees worldwide. Equality is a core value. “We believe that businesses can be powerful platforms for social change, and that it is our responsibility to further equality for all. Creating a culture of equality isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also the smart thing,” it stated.

Like the sound of that? Check out all of Salesforce’s’ open roles here.

Adobe

Powering creativity and powering D&I, Shantanu Narayen, chairman, president, and CEO, of Adobe said, “Diversity is about valuing the unique life experience that every employee brings to work every day. Our success is dependent upon it.” The company publishes an annual Diversity and Inclusion Year in Review report in the interests of transparency, and it has put in place a number of programs to help move the dial.

If you are interested in working at Adobe, the company is hiring now; check out current career opportunities.

Microsoft

Microsoft has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion with nine Employee Resource Groups throughout the company. These include The Global LGBTQIA+ Employees and Allies at Microsoft (GLEAM) employee resource group and Blacks at Microsoft (BAM), which when founded in 1989 was the company’s first employee resource group.

Microsoft is hiring – check its open roles out here.

Deloitte

Deloitte has around 415,000 employees globally. As a result it has a diverse workforce and stands against systemic bias, racism, and unequal treatment. Deloitte has a three pillar approach to its inclusive talent culture: gender balance, advancing LGBT+ inclusion, and supporting mental health.

If you would like to work at Deloitte, you can check out all the available jobs at the company here.

If you’re looking for your next great role in finance or tech, visit the Finextra Job Board today.

Comments: (0)