Diversity and inclusion is central to creating a healthy and stimulating work environment. Developing an accepting and open-minded company culture can take years of planning and hard work. However, technology companies across the UK and beyond are still falling at the first hurdle for being inclusive – recruitment.
With nearly a third of LGBTQ+ students openly conceding that they would avoid a career in tech, there are undoubtedly systematic issues within the industry’s recruitment strategies. In an increasingly competitive and constricted job market, there is more pressure than ever on jobseekers. Unless active steps are taken to ensure that the recruitment process is fair and avoids all inherent biases, tech companies will likely continue to see an imbalance across their workplaces.
A study by Stonewall found that nearly one in five members of the LGBTQ+ community have experienced discrimination whilst applying for a job or being interviewed. Employers need to take conscious action to ensure that no candidate feels embarrassed, vulnerable or exploited when seeking a new job....