Management team, here are four tips for achieving equality

Hello company boss, hr manager or government professional,

if your organisation wants to support diversity, even strive for a more diverse workplace, here are a few ideas to support your work.

1.) It takes effort to make good recruitments

"We just couldn't think of any men in the care sector." "I don't know any female leaders". If your sector is confined to a certain type of person, you are unlikely to find a new recruit in your circle of acquaintances. You always have to make an effort to recruit. To achieve diversity, you have to reach beyond your own bubbles and let the world know that you recruit here without prejudice.

2.) Hiring representatives of under-represented groups can lead to a need to change the way the organisation works and its culture.

If you were recruiting a new person from abroad, you would probably not expect them to speak Finnish immediately and be familiar with Finnish culture, but you would familiarise them and offer them the best possible conditions to succeed in the job. The same applies to all new recruits: what they need to do their best for us and how we need to act to make it a good place to be and work. It's not about special treatment, it's about equality and consideration.

3.) The first or only one of its kind can be hard to be

The only woman in the workplace does not represent her entire gender, and the first non-Finnish speaker does not represent the entire foreign-language population. A competent professional will certainly do well in her job. But a good employer understands that the role of a workplace pioneer can be a difficult one. There is no need to add to it by perpetuating harmful, even damaging stereotypes, but to treat colleagues as the professionals they are.

4.) Make the most of a fresh pair of eyes and new perspectives

Well, our website is inaccessible, there is no description of the service in Swedish or there is no disabled toilet in the lobby. A diverse work community with a wide range of backgrounds brings a variety of perspectives to the job, in addition to their professional skills. It helps not only to develop better products and services, but also to create a better workplace.

If it seems difficult to promote the idea of equality in recruitment, it is worth remembering that Finland has the most segregated labour market in Europe andsegregation is slowly decreasing compared to other countries. This means, for example, that many industrial sectors important for exports are male-dominated, while the majority of workers in many public sector sectors, such as teachers or nurses, are women. Segregation is detrimental both in terms of individual choice and in terms of finding talent. So your organisation is certainly not alone, but with a little effort it could be a pioneer! By the way, a successful recruitment process is excellent employer communication and a new employee ambassador will spread your reputation to new circles.

Milla Halme & Maria Teikari

The authors have set up a women's network for working life, the Sewing Society, which already has 20 000 members.