Building a Workforce That Mirrors the World: RMSI’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
India will soon have one of the largest workforces in the world, with over a billion working-age adults by the end of 2030. Given the country’s vast size and rich cultural heritage, workplaces in India are inherently diverse. However, as the global understanding of inclusion continues to evolve, Indian companies must ensure that their HR policies reflect these international standards.
In this perspective, RMSI’s commitment to promoting workforce diversity and inclusion can be exemplary for the corporate sector. Here’s how new-age enterprises, traditional organizations and MSMEs can create a truly diverse workforce as per international standards.
Hiring for Diversity: Creating Pathways for Talent with Inclusive Strategies
The significant gap in women’s representation in decision-making roles—currently at just 12%—highlights the urgent need for organizations to establish an inclusive environment. Organizations must actively drive meaningful change by ensuring that there is strong female representation at the top.
RMSI has excelled on the front by chartering a dedicated council that drives the organization’s inclusion initiatives. The company follows a defined diversity hiring strategy – it collaborates with top universities and polytechnics, and runs specialized programs for training and hiring individuals from ‘Under Represented Communities’. The company has also tied up with NGOs which help bring back women to work after a career break. This has helped the organization in hiring diversity candidates at all levels of management.
Beyond Recruitment: Creating a Supportive Workplace for Retaining Diverse Employees
Inclusion can be achieved not just through hiring practices, but by creating an environment that actively supports and retains diversity workforce.
To retain employees, a company can develop programs that showcase its commitment towards supporting them through various career and life stages. Few programs that have been gamechangers for RMSI in this regard, are providing employees, especially new mothers, with the option of customized work schedules and extended maternity leaves, as well as postpartum support through creche facilities. RMSI ensures that the onus of domestic/ caregiving responsibilities does not fall on one partner alone – the organization involves employees’ spouses in focused relationship counselling and child psychology workshops to foster a culture of empowerment.
Encouraging employees in their personal development can serve as a powerful way to demonstrate that there is genuine concern about their well-being. Through short-term career breaks for academic/ creative pursuits, sabbaticals for caregiving needs, or a comprehensive ‘Employee Assistance Program’ focused on holistic wellness, companies can effectively demonstrate their commitment to supporting employees beyond the workplace. These programs have been an integral part of the HR policies at RMSI and have contributed immensely to its vision of hiring and retaining employees in critical roles.
Diversity & Inclusion In Hiring: Creating A Diverse Workplace
Promoting Avenues for Professional Growth: Upskilling and Development
Investing in the upskilling and development of employees should be a significant aspect of an organization’s core business strategy.
Coaching and mentoring by senior leaders can be a great starting point in the area. An organization can also explore other avenues like identifying high potential employees and defining their career growth roadmap or offering fast track growth opportunities to high performers.
In addition to covering all the bases mentioned above, RMSI promotes upskilling through futuristic skill development (training programs on latest technologies), domain intensive learning interventions, programs like ‘Toastmasters International’ that hone leadership skills, and launching internationally recognized professional certifications for its employees. This has helped the organization enhance employee motivation levels while promoting a culture of continuous learning.
Special Care of the Marginalized: Underprivileged Women, Differently Abled and LGBTQIA+
Organizations should go beyond traditional diversity measures by focusing on marginalized communities, including underprivileged women, differently-abled individuals and the LGBTQIA+ workforce. Like RMSI, companies can work with an established global network of NGOs to run special skill development programs for them and empower them to lead independent, dignified lives.
Initiatives like sponsoring educational expenses for underprivileged girls and runaway street children can ensure access to education and future self-reliance. These measures foster inclusion and help cultivate a truly diverse and innovative workforce.
Diversity and Innovation: The RMSI Experience
Diverse teams bring fresh perspectives that drive innovation and problem-solving. Organizations can enhance creativity and deliver innovative solutions tailored to client needs by integrating talent from varied backgrounds.
For example, RMSI’s diverse workforce has played a key role in developing award-winning products like PIER (Profiler for Insurance Exposure and Risk) and PInCER (Profile and Information of Crop Exposure and Risk), which address complex industry challenges.
This diversity of thought and experience can fuel product innovation and set up a benchmark of inclusive practices.
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Summing Up
Commitment towards diversity and inclusion is not just about business ethics and morals. Numerous studies and research have shown how a diverse workforce is more productive and efficient. Organizations can unlock new opportunities for innovation, creativity, and business growth by promoting diversity and inclusion at every level. Whether through recruitment partnerships, tailored retention measures, or comprehensive upskilling programs, companies must embrace diversity as a core part of their DNA.
RMSI’s work in this area can be a guiding star and help organizations in strengthening their workforce, improving employee engagement, and delivering innovative solutions. As the world becomes even more interconnected, global diversity and inclusion standards must be introduced swiftly in a growing organization.
