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The Importance of Language and Cultural Awareness in the Work Environment
Collaborative post with BiCortex Languages
Diversity and inclusion are vital for any business, fostering participation and bringing together varied identities, backgrounds, and experiences. With global labor shortages, many companies are hiring refugees, but creating an inclusive workplace requires more than standard practices. Read our best practices to learn how to create a truly inclusive environment.
Benefits of Diversity and Inclusion
Studies consistently show that diverse teams drive innovation, boost productivity, and lead to smarter decision-making. In fact, companies with diverse workforces earn about 20% more than those without.
A culture of diversity and inclusion doesn’t just improve performance—it creates a sense of belonging that makes employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated. By embracing D&I practices, organizations unlock powerful benefits, from better business outcomes to enhanced innovation and stronger decision-making. The results speak for themselves!
Larger Talent Pool
Expanding your recruitment efforts to include a wider range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages not only broadens your talent pool but also increases your chances of finding the perfect hire. Diversity isn’t just an asset to your company—it’s also a major factor for job seekers, with 67% of employees considering diversity when evaluating job opportunities. By hiring more diverse candidates, you’re not only enhancing your team but also attracting top talent who are eager to contribute and grow.
New Perspectives And Innovation
Research from the Harvard Business Review reveals a clear link between diversity and innovation. The most diverse companies—across factors like migration, industry, gender, education, and age—show the highest levels of innovation, reflected in their revenue growth. Diverse teams are more creative and better at identifying products and services that meet the evolving needs of a broadening customer base. The evidence is clear: diversity drives both innovation and business success.
Better Decision-Making
Diverse teams make smarter, more effective decisions. A study by Cloverpop, an online decision-making platform, analyzed 600 business decisions across 200 teams and found that diverse teams made decisions 60% better than their less diverse counterparts. Gender-diverse teams outperformed individual decision-makers 73% of the time, while teams diverse in location, gender, and age saw an even greater advantage, outperforming individuals by a staggering 87%.
Improved Performance
Diversity is a competitive differentiator - McKinsey & Company found that for every 10% increase in gender diversity, EBIT rose by 3.5%. Companies with significantly more racial and ethnic diversity are 35% more likely to outperform competitors. Harvard Business Review also discovered that diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets, yielding higher performance.
Immigrant Inclusion in the Workplace
Immigrants bring unique perspectives and expertise that set them apart. Every culture approaches challenges in its own way, and with more people with immigrant backgrounds on your team, you'll gain fresh, diverse solutions that lead to smarter, more creative decisions. Many companies are already embracing the opportunity to hire immigrants and reap the benefits of a varied workforce.
So, what does effective inclusion look like? Let’s dive in!
Develop an Effective Onboarding Process
A solid onboarding strategy is crucial for helping new employees feel included and engaged. Studies show that newcomers, especially immigrants, often struggle with unwritten office rules and arbitrary decisions but hesitate to speak up. To ease their transition, provide a clear written guide on workplace policies, culture, and expectations. Pairing each new hire with a mentor can also offer valuable support and help them settle in faster.
Promote Socialization at the Workplace
Host social events and recognize diverse cultural holidays to foster interaction among employees. Celebrating different traditions encourages dialogue and helps everyone feel valued and included. When employees can connect and share their cultures, they feel more comfortable in the workplace.
Language is a Skill
Language isn’t a barrier—it’s a skill. Instead of focusing on "language barriers," offer resources like translation tools or language training to help employees improve their communication. Learning key phrases in their native language shows respect and creates an inclusive atmosphere. Consider using online language lessons for flexibility. Consider offering online language lessons as a flexible and easy alternative for employees to improve their language skills. BiCortex is a great option for businesses that seek expert assistance. They offer tailored language and cultural training programs that improve communication and help foster a more diverse and productive environment.
Provide Cultural Guidance
Workplace cultures vary by country, and immigrants may struggle to adapt to new norms. Offering cultural guidance helps them understand expectations and excel in their new environment. Clear communication about your company’s values, processes, and how to succeed in meetings will set employees up for success and boost retention.
The Bottom Line
Your company's inclusion strategy reflects your commitment to diversity. To make immigrant employees feel valued, start by offering a warm welcome and providing the support and information they need. This leads to a more talented workforce and better staff retention. If you don’t have a solid inclusion plan yet, now is the perfect time to create one and expand your business by building a diverse team. Need support? Reach out to us for an open conversation to discuss your needs.
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