Even after more than 10 years staying in this country, it
still amazes me the number of companies that request a specific sex,
religion, or ethnic background, when looking to hire a new member of
their team. I have discussed the trend with a number of companies over
the years and the response seems to either focus on “feeling comfortable
working with people with a similar outlook” or based on stereotypes.
While I believe the customer is always right, I do try and encourage
companies to explore a more diverse recruitment policy, as I feel they
are isolating themselves from some outstanding talent.
One of my friend shared with me the situation in her office, where most of staff are men, come from Java, and most were
even from the same university. If only I could have a chance to get an opportunity to create diversity in one environment, I will definitely use that great chance to make improvement in this country. Staff turnover will be increased during this
period but I will felt the benefits were worth the pain. I will made an effort to try and build a diverse team in Indonesia.
The reason I was willing to go through this tough time was because in my
experience, employees with diverse backgrounds bring unique experiences
and different points of view to a company. Being able to tap in to this
pool of experiences and differing views can benefit the company by
increasing a teams ability to adapt to changing conditions and deliver
better results. A diverse workplace also provides opportunity for
employees' personal growth. Being exposed to new ideas, cultures and
perspectives can help individuals to gain a clearer view of their
surroundings and their place in the world.
This diverse workplace has lowered employee turnover and ultimately
contributed to the growth of the company. Most importantly is has
created an environment that is energetic and welcoming of new ideas.
