Does Temping Provide Better Opportunities For Diversity Hiring?

It goes without saying that diversity enriches the working environment. When your workforce is comprised of different people of a range of different ages, from different social and cultural backgrounds, of different gender identities, races and religions it makes for an environment in which employees can learn from one another and achieve a greater social understanding. Diversity in the workplace is a key component in creating social cohesion, as people who might otherwise become cloistered in monocultural echo chambers get to know one another and from bonds of comradeship.

It’s also, however, essential in creating a healthier economy. Diversity hiring boosts employment and marginal propensity to consume in neighbourhoods traditionally regarded as low-income. It can provide opportunity for employees with disabilities. It can allow older workers to retire later and build a more robust pension pot. A more diverse workforce can also be a more productive workforce. A 2016 study by McKinsey suggests that a diverse workforce can be up to 35% more productive. But while diversity hiring is an essential aspect of business operations, does temping provide better opportunities for diversity hiring?

Unconscious bias

When making permanent hires, employers can (despite their best intentions) make recruitment decisions which are coloured by an unconscious bias. Employers can tend to recruit in their own image, potentially discriminating against those of a different gender, those with disabilities or parents. Simply being aware of this bias can help to mitigate it somewhat but going with your gut on who is best for the workforce can sometimes be an impediment to a diverse workforce and the productivity boost that it implies.

Can diversity hiring become counterproductive?

Of course, hiring solely on the basis of diversity can also be counterproductive, especially when you don’t invest in the infrastructure that can create an inclusive working dynamic like employee training, shared activities, team building exercises etc. If employees are recruited yet feel isolated and alienated from their co-workers for the very aspects of their persona that make them diverse this can be very harmful to productivity and even toxify your working environment.

So, how does temping provide better opportunities for diversity hiring?

Why temp hires offer the best of both worlds

Temp hires can offer the best of both worlds, especially if we hire on a temp-to-perm basis. Temp hiring gives you access to an enormous pool of candidates, each of which will have been vetted by an agency and come to the table with a guaranteed set of skills and competencies.

Because temp hires are lower risk, employers tend to be more willing to take a chance on them or hire outside of their comfort zone. Temps tend to turn up for work with a great attitude and will be very keen to integrate themselves into the fabric of your workplace. Thus, while they can fit well into the dynamic of your team, you are not obliged to stay with them if they turn out not to be a good fit.

Best for the job or best for the team?

Ultimately, when hiring for diversity, employers need to consider not just who is best for the job but who is best for the team. Temp hiring can create new opportunities to build a more diverse and productive workforce while representing very little risk for employers.