As business shifts to a more global mindset, the search for talent becomes increasingly important in all countries nowadays. Working for InterSearch Hungary / Dr. Pendl & Dr. Piswanger Int. Consulting, we help companies and organizations shape their future by finding executives with great leadership potential and across geographical and cultural borders. We create competitive edge for our clients by finding the most talented leaders to them. But we also believe that a focus on diversity & inclusion is the way to give business a critical competitive advantage.
Our team has extensive experience recruiting in an increasingly complex and diverse business community. Not to say that we are sensitive when working with clients on matters related to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation. As addition we not only assist clients with diversity & inclusion, but we are committed to practicing this within our own organization as well as to promoting the aim of D&I in Hungary.
That is why we were one among the first signatories of EU Diversity Charter Hungary that was launched in the residence of the Dutch ambassador, His Excellency Gajus Scheltema October
20, 2016. The document was signed by 50 companies. It aims to raise leaders’ awareness and to increase their commitment to mainstreaming diversity in their organization by providing support and inspiration for developing and rethinking human resource management. Diversity Charter Hungary was launched as 17th among the European national charters.
Exactly a year later, in October 2017 additional companies jointed to the Charter as well as last year signatories expressed their commitment again by re-signing the document in the name of their company. The re-signatory ceremony was hosted by the Hungarian Business Leaders Forum and the Canadian ambassador, Her Excellency Isabelle Poupart on October 12, 2017. I feel more than lucky to be one of the re-signatories of the Diversity Charter Hungary in the name of InterSearch Hungary / P&P. The participants of the event had an interesting conversation about why D & I is so important in the working environment.
Let me recall some important arguments for diversity and inclusion in the workplaces:
- Tangible, financial aspect: greater financial performance. Research shows that companies with diversity outperform less diverse organizations. (“15% higher for gender diversity, 35% higher for ethnic diversity” – McKinsey, 2015. “Team-based assessments of inclusive teams show 80% better results” – Deloitte Australia, 2013)
- Greater innovation and creativity. There is a direct link between diversity and innovation. Forbes research shows that 85% of the biggest global companies recognized and agreed that the diverse teams have bigger creative potential to the homogenous teams.
- Greater employer satisfaction. Diversity helps build synergy in teams, decreases conflicts between working groups, improves communication and cooperation that is why employer satisfaction increases. In a long-term D & I strengthens loyalty of employees for the company.
- Attract and retain generations Y and Z. They want to co-create culture and they do. They choose a workplace with a value. You can motivate them rather with “good causes” of social responsibility than money. Diversity is an important issue for them.
- A larger talent pool. Companies that embrace diversity benefit from a larger talent pool than those looking at select groups of potential applicants.
- Bigger market share with a satisfied diverse customer base. When employees are from different backgrounds and experiences, businesses can more effectively market to consumers from different ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.
- Positive Employer Branding. Many people want to work for companies that’s brand is known for the qualities. Companies and brands embrace diversity and inclusion will be seen as creative, productive and innovative organization that many want to work with.
Written by Judit Hegedus, Director at InterSearch Hungary / Dr. Pendl & Dr. Piswanger Int. Consulting, October 30, 2017