Equal Opportunity Hiring Forms: Recruiting for Diversity

Corporate environments have become more diverse in recent years, but they still have a long way to go in the name of equality. The good news is that equal opportunity hiring forms can help you ensure that your workforce accurately reflects today’s society.

Here’s what equal opportunity means for employers today.

What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act?

Learning about equal opportunity in the workplace requires that you first understand the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. Regulated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1974 is an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This act “prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, and religion,” according to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. This act also prevents employers from retaliating against an employee who chooses to exercise his or her rights in accordance with this law.

What is the Purpose of Equal Employment Opportunity?

Adhering to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act results in immense benefits for the growth and development of your business. For one, having a more diverse workforce makes you more competitive on a worldwide scale. Equipping your team with new perspectives, cultures, and ideas will make your workplace more innovative and creative, helping you to get ahead in an increasingly demanding world.

Another benefit of equal opportunity is that it helps make your company more attractive to top talent. When qualified applicants see themselves reflected in your workforce, they’ll be more likely to want to work for you. In turn, this will increase the competition of your applicant pool and ensure that you are selecting from the best of the best.

Lastly, creating an equal working environment reduces the risk of legal action against your company. When people feel like they’re being treated fairly across the board, you won’t have to worry about lawsuits being brought against you. And let’s face it, treating your potential and current employees fairly is quite simply an ethical responsibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an employer, promoting Equal Employment Opportunity should be at the top of your to-do list. Here are a few ideas for ensuring more diversity and inclusion in your workplace.

Diversity and Equality Training

Hosting diversity and equality training is one of the best ways to guarantee that your staff treats one another fairly. Taking the time to emphasize these subjects will verify that your staff knows how to adhere to your company’s guidelines. After all, interpersonal relationships amongst staff greatly influence how people feel on a day-to-day basis at work; therefore, making a direct commitment to education in this arena is a vital step towards both equality and group cohesion.

Create an Equal Employment Policy

Writing a company-wide policy about equal opportunity creates a foundation for establishing proper equality training programs. It helps people understand exactly how they’re supposed to treat one another and why certain behaviors are detrimental. It’s highly important that your policy clearly defines expectations, as well as zero-tolerance behavior.

When minority and at-risk groups see you advocating for equality, they’re more likely to feel safe and welcome in the workplace.