To some, being politically correct feels like you are walking on eggshells in a library.
Trust me, that is not the case.
Your main objective (besides being an exemplary employer) should be that the office is a safe place for all employees. This sometimes means that you have to take a hard look at the company culture and reevaluate the values that you consider are essential for the success of your team.
How do you do that?
Here are my ABC(D)s of getting started:
Accountability- "the quality or state of being accountable, especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility and be held accountable for ones actions" (Merriam-Webster)
Hold yourself accountable for your choices as an employer. Inclusion and Diversity are important in the workplace. Take note of your team and determine if the company culture is representative of the world. Since the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, there has been an increase in the number of Women, Minorities and LGBTQIA identifying individuals in the United States workforce. Your business should be an environment where all employees should be allowed to prosper professionally. Your HR consultant will help you form a cohesive plan to make sure that your office reflects this.
Bias- "prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person or group compared with another; usually in a way considered to be unfair" (Oxford Dictionary)
Be aware of bias, it may sound like a cliche but "admitting the problem is the first step to recovery." Don't let bias keep potentially excellent candidates from joining your company. If you use pre-employment assessment tests, make sure that they are not designed to exclude protected members of the population. Your HR consultant will help you develop questions that are geared specifically toward qualifications necessary to do the job and will help you ascertain if the potential hire will be a good fit.
Compliance- "the act or process of complying to a desire, demand, proposal, or regimen or to coercion" (Merriam-Webster)
I can not stress compliance enough. Some of the biggest issues that employers face are because of a lack of knowledge about hiring diverse staff, setting fair wages, classifying exempt vs non-exempt employees and workplace safety. Having a dedicated HR consultant on standby to walk you through those issues will be pivotal in propelling growth within the company.
Development- "the act, process, or result of developing" (Merriam-Webster)
Consistently seek development opportunities. Employees are more likely to enjoy/dedicate themselves to their tasks if they feel that their company will invest in their professional growth and education. There are many low-cost opportunities that employers can use to develop their team. Your HR consultant will help you identify and apply these resources for the betterment of your company.
Contact the A. Taylor Management and our dedicated team of consultants will ensure that the ABC(D)s become second nature. Let us help you reach your full potential!
