Get ready for uncomfortable conversations. From the squeeze chute to the C-suite, knowledge about diversity, equity and inclusion will take place this year, according to Amber Cabral, author and diversity and inclusion consultant. She predicts six trends that, at last, indicate true change will take place.
- Remote work will be more common
- Workforce diversity will change
- Inclusion will become actionable and quantitative
- Non-inclusive company cultures will impact consumers’ loyalty
- Marketing will showcase greater diversity
- More allies and advocates will emerge to call out racism at work
Source: Fast Company, February 1, 2021. Link. As interviews become largely virtual, discrimination against candidates on the basis of skin color and accents can still happen, but other judgments like background visuals and sounds can take center stage. Also, similarity bias – our tendency to be drawn to people similar to us – can still play a part in assessing talent while remote.
INSIGHTS: Long gone are the days when candidates in the pipeline with whom we’re familiar are the most qualified for open positions. Candidates most apt to lead the animal health industry into the future have backgrounds, education and life experiences we’ve never considered before. It’s their time to lead.