*DEI NEWS: SHRM shifts from DEI to I&D

August 27, 2024

In a significant and somewhat unexpected move, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has announced a change in how it will be talking about workplace diversity. Going forward, SHRM has decided to focus on “Inclusion and Diversity” (I&D), removing “Equity” (E) from the widely known DEI acronym. While this decision represents a shift in language, SHRM leadership has reassured its members that their commitment to equity remains strong. We suspect this move is a bow to the controversial nature of the equity language which has led some HR professionals to believe it implies an unintended focus on equal outcomes as opposed to equal opportunities.

So, how does this shift in language play out in real life?

At PACE, we are using this language change to remind all employers how important it is to ensure that our hiring practices are free of bias. Ensuring equal opportunity to be hired should always be the natural outcome of a well-crafted hiring process that includes the steps necessary to attract diverse talent but also making sure every candidate has the same experience throughout the hiring process!

Here’s what we’d like to see all hiring managers ask themselves about their current hiring processes…

Are your job postings crafted to attract a diverse range of candidates who can deliver the results required for the role?
Does your interview process minimize opportunities for interviewer bias? Does it provide all candidates with an equal opportunity to showcase their ability to achieve the results most important to their success? Does it put aside unnecessary skill, education, or specific work experience requirements to offer less credentialed but highly talented and motivated candidates a chance to shine?
Do your interview processes get compromised by how a candidate looks, their presentation skills, and “things we have in common”?
Do you take the time to make sure that every step of your hiring process, including the interview, is structured and standardized so that all candidates are treated the same?

PACE is committed to helping our clients achieve their diversity goals all while giving all candidates an equal opportunity to be selected. Ask us about our RESULTS FOCUSED hiring process and see if it doesn’t make sense to you?

PACE Staffing Network is one of the Puget Sound’s premier staffing /recruiting agencies, helping Northwest employers find and hire employees based on the “right fit” for over 50 years.

A 5-time winner of the coveted “Best in Staffing” designation, PACE is ranked in the top 2% of staffing agencies nationwide based on annual surveys of customer satisfaction. PACE services include temporary and contract staffing, temp to hire auditions, direct hire professional recruiting services, Employer of Record (payroll) services, and a large menu of what we call HIRING HELP that allows clients to purchase a variety of candidate screening and assessment services on an ad hoc basis, augmenting your internal staffing or hiring resources.

To learn more about how partnering with PACE can make a difference to how who and how you hire, contact our Partner Services and Solutions team at 425-637-3312, email us or visit our website.

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