Equal employment opportunity laws prevent discrimination of all kinds in the workplace but can’t create a diverse workplace. That is up to employers. And diversity is a vital element in creating a successful business. Snohomish County isn’t made up of a single group of people. All ages, sexes and ethnicities as well as the disabled make up its varied demographics.
Clients or customers look for someone they feel comfortable dealing with and who can understand their perspective. A varied staff appeals to more people and so benefits the business or organization.
Paul Seely is director of community development for the Snohomish County Boys and Girls Club. He knows the importance of having young people as well as older adults to act as role models.
“You’ve got kids of all shapes and sizes and backgrounds,” Seely said. “A lot of our young people in the clubs are mentors to even younger ones. A few of our young people serve as junior staff in the club.
They’ve grown up in the clubs and are probably in the best position to help kids stay out of trouble.”
Older workers also bring their own unique benefits to the workforce. Many employers have discovered that mature workers tend to be more reliable and loyal. They also have a vast amount of experience and knowledge to draw on — something that will be missed as the baby boomers begin to retire.
Many employers seem to be getting the message about hiring older workers. According to unemployment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the length of joblessness has recently declined for workers age 55 and older.
This isn’t the case for all older workers across the board, however. A recent AARP survey suggested that twice as many Hispanics over the age of 45 lost their job during the recent recession as compared to the general population.
Washington ranks fourth nationwide in terms of total minority population growth while Snohomish County ranks third within the state. This is driven not only by recent immigration but also through population growth in general.
Businesses that ignore this data can’t serve the population as successfully as those who embrace it and take advantage of a diverse pool of workers reflective of the local population.
Perhaps the most underused workers in the workplace are the disabled. The unemployment rate in Snohomish County has decreased slightly, but job opportunities for individuals with disabilities are still few and far between. This is not because they can’t do the work.
“Many employers have misconceptions about hiring people with disabilities, such as a belief that their insurance and worker’s compensation costs will increase, or that most people with disabilities need expensive accommodations to succeed,” said Michelle Fogus, executive director of Sherwood Community Services. “In fact, average costs are no different for most employers who hire people with disabilities. Most people need no special accommodations, or very simple and inexpensive ones, to succeed at work.”
Fogus also pointed out that many people with disabilities are looking for those hard-to-fill permanent part-time jobs rather than a full-time position. A national study by the Office of Disability Employment Policy demonstrated that turnover rates are much lower among disabled employees.
Employers have a great opportunity to improve their bottom line simply by growing a diverse workforce rather than a homogenous one. By hiring a wide variety of individuals, they keep up with the future.
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