A human resource (HR) colleague, whom I have known for over 25 years, sent me this SHRM article titled Racial, Gender Discrimination in Tech Industry Worsening. They said, “It is disturbing that during a time when employers have been desperate for talent, they were unable to source a diverse group of skilled individuals for technology positions,” and asked for my thoughts on the article.
I have been following the tech industry and diversity for years, since I used to be a computer programmer and then a technical recruiter many years ago, and I enthusiastically dove into the article.
Below are a couple of statements that stood out for me in the article that I chose to comment on.
“With all of the work that companies claim to be doing…”
There is a lot of DEI-related “doing” claimed to be going on. Be that as it may, while there are a lot of techies available now to choose from, it is easy for organizations to go back to their same old hiring practices, which means hiring people who look like them.
“…just 15 percent of HR professionals said they believe racial inequality occurs frequently or very frequently at work, suggesting that HR may not be fully cognizant of the discrimination…”
Not surprising news. I dare say that most HR folks are proud, don’t like change, don’t like admitting they need to change, and do not get DEI. Too harsh? Of course, there are some exceptions.
Then there are tips, which are all good, but nothing new or different from what I’ve been saying for years. My final opinion — more people should read this article! It’s good.
I mentioned how we are living in challenging times, as the demographic changes that were predicted since around 1987 are upon us in full force. What nobody predicted was the murder of George Floyd and the pandemic, both of which have had great impact on the changes in society and the workplace.
My colleague commented back, “As always your insights are so on point.” Their parting words of wisdom were, “These are world-shaking and once-in-a-lifetime events that I did not expect to see in my lifetime. We have witnessed events and historic changes in our country’s culture that have had significant impacts on multiple generations, the workforce, and the workplace.”
What are your thoughts about HR’s role in your organization – are their practices facilitating or hindering diversity hiring?
Copyright © 2023 Lila Kelly Associates, LLC. Not to be reprinted without written permission from Lila Kelly. Integrating Diversity into Hiring, Interviewing, Recruiting and Retention – Since 1992. See DEI resources and research-based online training courses at diversityintegration.com, which offer training for interviewers and hiring managers on interview skills, cultural competencies, and methods to identify unconscious bias and eliminate barriers for diverse applicants. To stay up to date on all the latest from Lila Kelly Associates and DiversityIntegration subscribe to our newsletter.