Minority employees may face challenges in the workplace that other portions of your staff don’t encounter. Even as more companies work to be inclusive and put forth the effort to increase their level of diversity, certain issues for your underrepresented workers can still arise, particularly if they don’t have an ally within the management team.

There are things you can do as a manager to help your minority employees thrive. To help you get started, here are a few tips to try.

One of the most important things you can do is to simply be available to hear their concerns. Often, it’s hard to identify the challenges your minority workers may be facing unless they discuss them with you personally.

While you don’t have to be overly forward about your availability, ensuring you are always open and receptive when they come to you with a problem can go a long way. Remind your staff, in its entirety, that any and all concerns can be presented, then use active listening to ensure you learn about the full scope of the problem before proposing a solution.

At times, minority workers are reluctant to directly discuss issues they may face in the workplace, often due to the fear of repercussion. However, that doesn’t mean that, if you see or hear something that could be creating a challenge for them, you can’t step up and be an advocate for change.

Exactly how you need to act, when functioning as an ally, may vary depending on the situation. However, if a clear-cut issue, like harassment or discrimination, occurs, review the company policy and take the recommended steps. If it happens in front of you, don’t hesitate to intervene, particularly if it’s within your purview to do so.

In cases where your company has initiatives related to diversity and inclusion, make sure to actively support them. Review the details of the programs and policies, and work to implement any changes that need to occur within your team or department. If such guidance doesn’t exist, then consider bringing up the topic to see if such activities can benefit your minority workforce or promote diversity objectives.

Many companies don’t have specific initiatives related to inclusion and diversity, so you can become an ally by just promoting the idea and working with upper management to begin instituting lasting change in your organization.

Ultimately, supporting your minority employees isn’t challenging, and making an effort can improve your companies culture, creating a happier and more productive environment. If you would like to learn more or are looking for a new worker to join your team, the knowledgeable staff at The Advance Group can help. Contact us today to learn more about our services can see how our expertise can work for you.