By Vish Baliga
A lot has changed in the past decade. Phones are slimmer and smarter, streaming services are replacing cable TV, but one recent change – the proliferation of remote working – has only gained steam, particularly as a COVID-19 world grappled with working from home. This trend, to remote, gig and external work, increases productivity and provides flexibility to employees – challenging companies to rethink their strategies on how to engage and appeal to workers across categories.
Recent years have seen a dramatic shift in the composition of the workforce, with only 58 percent of workforce spend dedicated to full-time employees. The external workforce (comprising independent contractors, contingent workers, freelancers, consultants and temporary staff) devote crucial capabilities in times of uncertainty. According to Gartner, 32% of organizations are hiring contingent workers as a cost-saving measure. All of this suggests that the emergence of the external workforce has replaced the traditional arrangement of hiring only full-time employees, and brings the concepts of diversity and inclusion to the forefront, demanding that businesses develop a strategy to compete for this unique talent pool.
Unlike procurement of products, external workforce management involves the procurement of talented people for a set duration, sometimes followed by possible extensions or conversions into permanent roles. Knowing that the services are delivered by people, who are going to spend a minimum of months or years with an organization, shouldn’t the complete integration of external workers and full-time employees be considered vital for your organization’s effectiveness?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) goes beyond race, religion, age, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. It also extends to talent diversity. With organizations shifting gears to leverage more contingent workers to ensure business continuity, these workers have access to confidential information about the projects they are involved in and at times contribute to organizational strategy. Not to forget, since these are not permanent employees, they switch from one company to another upon completion of projects, with a wealth of information up their sleeves. Should, then, the kind of experiences they have with an organization and their encounters with other workers matter? I imagine it does for the brand to remain and become more attractive to potential talent, customers, partners and shareholders.
It trickles down from the top management with a straightforward attitude of treating external workers with basic respect and dignity. Every program and policy must be built with this principle at its core, so that every category of worker feels safe, welcomed and valued. The principles practiced internally reflect the reputation of the company externally – ensuring the image of the company reflects purpose, respect and empathy. It is fairly common for an external worker to become a full-time employee and vice-versa, which further calls for ensuring consistency.
Organizations with robust DE&I policies are known to perform well financially, innovate, cultivate creativity and increase productivity. By putting aside the apprehension of including external workers, DE&I-focused companies can reap all the above benefits by bringing in systemic change within the organization and driving better business outcomes.
It begins with the recruitment process
First and foremost, when curating profiles of external workers, businesses can choose to anonymize candidates to avoid bias, enabling them to identify candidates purely based on skills and expertise – not by their name, gender, race or ethnic background. Amplifying and conveying the DE&I policies of the company during the onboarding process will educate external workers about the company’s values and make them feel included from the very beginning. Encouraging every new hire to focus on DE&I can lead to noticeable changes in the culture across the organization and on the balance sheet.
Choosing the right partners
By partnering with organizations that value and practice DE&I policies, external workers are bound to have the experiences that more closely mirror a full-time employee, directly benefiting the business through high engagement. Whereas companies that lack DE&I programs may find it challenging to appeal to and engage with more inclusive organizations since there are usually multiple options to work with.
Setting expectations
During their assignments, organizations must establish clear and authentic communications to external workers about what they can expect and what is expected from them. If something is irrelevant to their jobs, it must be communicated with a logical rationale rather than setting out unexplained restrictions.
Access to technology
External workers must be provided with the necessary technology, tools and equipment to enable them to do their jobs without impediments. Additionally, if an external worker does not require access to specific tools for their job, the onus is on the supervisor to share the reasons for this rather than denying access without explanation simply because they are not a full-time employee.
Creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce is every individual’s responsibility and an ongoing effort. Every leader in an organization must be willing to embrace an inclusive culture and lead by example. When contingent workers are separated from full-time workers, a company creates silos unnecessarily, fracturing its own culture and undermining its DE&I programs. However, by addressing inequities and expanding inclusion, organizations can focus on progressing policies that matter to every individual connected to the organization.
Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.