Nurturing diversity in the workplace

Posted 22/11/2016

Changing global demographics are dramatically impacting the workforce. People are living longer and working older; the workforce is more diverse than ever; and migration is reaching levels not seen for decades. As the war for talent intensifies, employers need to move on from circular conversations about diversity and take action, if they’re going to secure the talent their business needs.

Diversity of people promotes diversity of thought. By adjusting workforce management practices to better tap underutilised talent pools, organisations will see better business results. It is not just the right thing to do – it makes clear business sense.

At ManpowerGroup, we make it our priority to enable all people to participate in the workplace and achieve their full potential. Here are just some of the ways we’re nurturing diversity in the workforce:

Transforming Military Recruitment in Australia

For more than a decade, ManpowerGroup Australia has partnered with the Australian Defence Force to deliver the largest and most complex Recruitment Process Outsourcing solution in the world. Mission critical to the success of this partnership is our focus on sourcing talent from wider pools, attracting the best skills and better representing underrepresented groups. For example, women were previously an underrepresented group in the Australian Defence Force; we’ve now increased the number of applications from women by over 85%.

Opening Doors for Refugees in Europe

ManpowerGroup Netherlands has partnered with the Dutch Council for Refugees, UAF (an NGO supporting refugees in finding work) and the Naturalisation Service to offer refugees re-training and long-term employment as interpreters. Ready and willing to learn, refugees are upskilling or converting skills through intensive courses. They’re then placed into roles as Interpreters. Through dedicated refugee programmes like this, we’re helping individuals utilise or develop new skills, find meaningful work, regain normalcy and rebuild their lives.

Nurturing Diversity by Building Inclusive Workforces

In summer 2016, ManpowerGroup Brazil filled 15,000 positions for one of the highest profile sporting events in the world. We embedded our approach to ‘doing well by doing good’ across the entire event. We created work opportunities for people from local communities; attracted a diverse workforce through outreach in nearby favelas; and hired more than 150 people with disabilities to join the winning team supporting Brazil.

Right Management UK Helps Service Leavers Adapt to Civilian Life

Every year in the UK, thousands of people leave the armed forces with a range of skills and experience. However, they can often find it hard to transition into civilian life. Through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), we’ve helped 180,000 individuals transition into civilian life after leaving the forces. We’re proud that our approach is working. Over 90% of all Service Leavers transitioning via the CTP are settled into a new civilian job role within six months. Recently extended for a further six years, the partnership is now open to Early Service Leavers too, whether they served for six weeks or six years.

Breaking Down Barriers in Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza

Through our Fundación ManpowerGroup INTEGRA Programme, we have trained disabled university students in Barcelona, Madrid and Zaragoza for over a decade. We train business mentors for our clients and find the best-fit diverse talent. This helps them meet their needs under the Spanish Law for Social Integration of the Disabled. With coaching on topics such as communication and corporate culture, we guide students towards sustainable employment and professional integration.

To find out more about how ManpowerGroup is doing well by doing good, download our 2016 Sustainability Report.

Mark Cahill

Mark Cahill is Managing Director of ManpowerGroup in the UK, a Regional Managing Director of ManpowerGroup Northern Europe, and European leader for RPO and for TAPFIN, ManpowerGroup’s MSP and vendor neutral solution. As Managing Director, he is responsible for the UK’s conception and delivery of industry-leading workforce solutions to clients and candidates to succeed. He is also responsible for driving the company’s Managed Service Programme (MSP) and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) offerings in Europe. A 29-year veteran of ManpowerGroup, Mark was previously Chief Executive of Brook Street, and has held roles such as Financial Director and Managing Director of the ManpowerGroup-owned company. Mark also performs an advisory role influencing government and agency bodies, and regularly contributes to industry-wide discussions. In 2014 he was appointed Chairman of the CBI’s London Council, following several years of active participation.