How to Use Employee Referrals Without Giving Up Workplace Diversity

More than a third of U.S. workers landed their current job via an employee referral. In a tight talent market, it’s tempting for organizations to rely even more heavily on employee referrals to fill open positions; in addition, employees referred to companies report higher levels of engagement. At the same time, research shows referrals can lead to pay inequities and a less-diverse workforce. So how can companies take advantage of the positive effects while minimizing the negative ones? Start by gathering an analyzing your company’s data on talent sourcing and incentivizing employees to refer more women and people of color.