Diversity in the care at home industry has become a priority, which was confirmed in our 2020 survey done in collaboration with Home Health Care News and a 2021 trends report.
Even amidst the pandemic, around 20% of respondents believe addressing racial equity is important, and around 90% plan to increase 2021 resources for diversity and inclusion initiatives.
This is the second blog in our five-star organization series on building your best team. Fostering a culture that promotes and supports diversity helps employees feel comfortable in the workplace and bring new ideas to the table.
Attract More Talent with Your Diverse Culture
Axxess’ unique culture, which is comprised of employees from more than 40 countries, helps define our brand and image.
A commitment to diversity and maintaining an inclusive culture can be a differentiator when recruiting. We have many applicants who share that they noticed Axxess’ diverse culture in videos, the website, or other places. Many applicants say that was one of the reasons they were attracted to join our team.
How to Establish a Diverse Culture
1. Break down traditional barriers for open conversation and collaboration.
Run a survey or simply ask employees for their thoughts on how the organization can do better. Giving opportunities for all employees to engage with leadership through town halls or other forums provides a way for leaders to check the organization’s pulse and encourage open dialogue.
2. Create a mantra around letting the best idea win.
A wide range of ideas stem from diversity and lead to innovation. All employees should be comfortable speaking up.
3. Recognize holidays or other important employee traditions.
Allow paid days off for unique holidays. Be flexible on dress code or routines that may be related to religion. If these traditions do not impede work, providing employees space to follow beliefs will keep them happier at work.
4. Provide channels for expression through employee resource groups and hosting company events with diverse employee panels.
Axxess annually hosts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Day, an employee led celebration with rooms converted to represent different continents. We encourage employees from those regions to teach us about their culture through traditional dress, music, dance, trivia, food, their native languages and more. Events like this build connection on commonalities and understanding between people, and it is also fun!
This is about listening to your employees’ needs; letting them be their authentic selves leads to a better work environment for everyone. To remain competitive and increase retention, a diverse culture should be a priority.
Axxess is a global software company that offers cloud-based solutions for home health, hospice and home care organizations. It is a company with an award-winning culture, with the Axxess mission and vision firmly at the forefront of operations.
Cullie Poseria, a product marketing manager at Axxess, contributed to this article.