An all-hands-on-deck approach to fostering inclusion
The tech industry is facing a very human problem. Despite all its talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion, racial discrimination is still an all-too-common problem in the industry. Recent statistics reveal a disturbing trend, with 24% of tech professionals reporting racial discrimination in 2022, compared to 18% in the previous year. While it’s disheartening to see an increase in discrimination in any industry, it hits especially hard in tech, where diversity should drive innovation. Let’s delve into discrimination in tech.
The Rise of Racism in the Industry
The tech industry experienced an unprecedented wave of layoffs in 2022. Unfortunately, underrepresented individuals often bear a disproportionate burden during such downsizing periods, creating a widening gap in tech’s demographic representation.
Conscious or unconscious bias and a lack of prioritization of anti-racism initiatives continue to plague the tech industry, perpetuating discrimination.
In the current climate, organizations must double their efforts to fortify Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives. This call to action becomes even more critical after recent regressive moves by the U.S. Supreme Court. In June, the SCOTUS decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard dealt a blow to affirmative action, effectively terminating race-conscious college admissions. A day later, the court exacerbated its anti-DEIB stance by voting to curtail LGBTQIA+ protections, taking the side of a Christian web designer who refused to provide services to queer couples.
This string of events has fueled growing fear and misinformation, leaving many employers uncertain. While the Harvard ruling specifically targeted affirmative action in college admissions and not workplaces, there’s a legitimate concern that it could trigger a ripple effect across industries, impacting diversity hiring and recruitment efforts for federal and private companies. Amidst these concerns, the looming specter of legal risk has cast a shadow over workplace DEIB endeavors, causing apprehension that these essential initiatives may grind to a halt.
All Aboard: Diversity Recruitment as a Solution to Discrimination
So, how do we effect change and turn the tide on the trajectory of exclusion? Employees may hesitate to rock the boat by raising the issue of discrimination, so change must be a concerted effort integrated into every level of an organization. Prioritizing diverse recruitment is one major step toward mitigating the challenges that arise from endemic discrimination.
While many recruiting teams claim they cannot find underrepresented talent or that underrepresented candidates do not apply for their positions, the truth is that we often look to our homogeneous networks for referrals and recommendations, which can perpetuate a company’s existing demographic makeup and put underrepresented candidates at a disadvantage.
While some technology can have the unfortunate effect of exacerbating human bias (a major concern in AI), it can also be harnessed for good. PowerToFly has created a suite of tools dedicated to helping companies create a pipeline of underrepresented candidates and convert them into engaged applicants.
HR and organizational leaders must assemble teams that mirror the demographic characteristics of the communities they serve. To achieve that, companies can filter by gender, ethnicity, and community affiliation.
Charting the Course
Here are 5 concrete things tech companies can do to create a more inclusive workforce:
1. Leadership Commitment: Make a clear commitment to DEIB from the top down.
2. Diverse Hiring Panels: Leverage diverse hiring panels to help underrepresented candidates envision themselves at the organization.
3. Training and Tools: Facilitate training, conversations, and tools for continuous learning.
4. Employee Resource Groups: Establish Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support and make space for diverse communities within your organization..
5. Diversity Audit: Evaluate your processes through a DEIB lens and make necessary improvements.
Turning the tide on discrimination in tech requires an all-hands approach that includes commitment from leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement where every level of the organization is on board. Despite recent setbacks, the tech industry has an opportunity to shape a more inclusive and equitable future.
