Transparency around corporate governance policies and environmental and social issues—such as climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion—has become essential in hiring and retention, as job-seekers are looking for employers whose values align with their own.
“If you aren’t being forward thinking and addressing ESG issues, your employees, regulators, or consumers are going to really start to notice,” says Jaimee Eddington, partner at executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles. She advises ensuring that interviewers represent the ethnic makeup of the overall company and including diversity leaders in hiring conversations, as it communicates DEI commitment to talent. “If they’re not meeting anyone diverse, then how are they going to feel like they’re going to be accepted?” Eddington says.
Similarly, hiring a chief sustainability officer, and including them in recruitment, can demonstrate a climate conscious culture. Finally, openly communicating the processes behind board, accounting, legal, culture, and hiring decisions can help employees feel involved and promote retention. Acknowledging areas for improvement and demonstrating progress in ESG can be more impactful than trying to prove perfection. “People want to see progression,” Eddington says. “They want to see they’re getting to a place that’s better.”
