What Happened to the Focus on DEI?
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and in the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement we saw a significant increase in companies prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within their organization. From hiring to marketing initiatives every company was making pivotal changes in how their organization viewed DEI. As a matter of fact, roles focused on DEI increased by 55% following demands for broader racial equity and justice after Floyd’s murder, the Society for Human Resource Management reported in 2020.
Image source: Anjali Nair / NBC News; Getty Images
For the first time (in what felt like) ever, we were seeing people of color in manager and executive level positions, recruiters were actively seeking out diverse talent and marketing campaigns were featuring people of color front and center. Many companies made public commitments to improve DEI in their hiring processes. They set goals to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in their workforce, and they implemented new policies and initiatives to achieve these goals. It was a bittersweet time. There were feelings of what took so long to get us here but joy in the fact that it finally felt like a reckoning was happening.
Over the past year, though, we’ve seen a significant decrease in the number of companies still focusing on DEI initiatives and actively seeking out diverse talent. In 2021, access to DEI initiatives jumped from 29% in 2019 to 43% in 2021. But, through the third quarter of 2022, that number dipped to 41% (HR Dive 2022).
At Monday Talent we see the decline in the focus on hiring diverse talent on a daily basis. We are fiercely committed to changing that. Below we’ve outlined some reasons why we think companies have stopped focusing on DEI and what we can do to change this.
The misconception that the work of hiring diverse talent was completed in 2021. Many companies viewed DEI hiring initiatives as a short-term effort to check a box, rather than a long-term commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Without sustained effort and ongoing investment, companies may find it difficult to maintain the momentum and progress they achieved in 2021. As recruiters we must constantly remind our clients that they should prioritize finding a diverse candidate and lay out steps we can take to find top talent.
Lack of accountability and transparency in DEI hiring. While many companies made public commitments to improving DEI in hiring, few have publicly shared their progress towards these goals. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to hold companies accountable for their DEI hiring efforts, which may lead to decreased motivation and accountability. Part of why there was such a drastic change in companies putting diversity initiatives at the forefront of their business in 2021 was because the public was calling out companies and forcing them to make changes. As consumers we need to continue to hold companies accountable and call out companies who made performative changes in 2021 and have halted all DEI focus in 2023.
Image source: Adweek (Top inclusive marketing campaigns in 2021)
There is a shortage of diverse talent in some industries, which can make it challenging for companies to meet their DEI hiring goals. While companies can take steps to broaden their candidate pools and create more inclusive work environments, they may still struggle to find diverse talent in certain fields. As recruiters we need to educate clients and the public on different ways to find diverse talent. From re-evaluating where you source talent to engaging your existing networks there are many ways to find diverse talent you just have to put in the time and effort!
To ensure that DEI hiring remains a priority, companies must view it as a long-term commitment and make ongoing investments in creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces. It's also essential to maintain transparency and accountability around DEI hiring progress and adapt to new challenges as they arise. By doing so, companies can create a more equitable and inclusive future for all employees.
