HR Industry News

Equal opportunities essential for recruitment and retention

— 14 May 2007 —

Strong equal opportunities policies for women and minority groups are essential if businesses are to attract and retain new staff.

That is the key finding of new research carried out by a mobile phone network which has also revealed that firms without such strategies were 20% more likely than average to have recorded a financial loss in the past year.

Just two per cent of employees working in organisations without adequate policies were 'very satisfied', the study said.

Commenting on the research, Dilys Robinson, principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies said that equal opportunities is one of the important drivers of employee engagement.

The Institute’s own research found it is fourth on the list of what employees want - after enjoying their job, feeling valued, and being involved with the organisation.

The Vodafone study of 1,500 workers and 500 employers also found that while managers at all levels said their highest priority was attracting and retaining the best people, employees believed their employers were performing poorly in areas they considered important, including corporate social responsibility and work-life balance. Just a quarter of employees gave a high rating to their organisation's HR function.

At Ceridian we acknowledge and embrace diversity. The workforce today has different needs compared to ten years ago and the focus today is much more on the individual needs of employees and how to marry those with the needs of the business. Embracing work practices that allow for flexibility goes a long way in attracting and ultimately retaining employees. It also enhances perceptions of equality in that the individual needs of a diverse workforce are met.Elanie Kruger, Head of Talent, Ceridian

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