Colorful Colorado

Representing the Colorado SHRM State Council, as the Diversity Director, I was invited to a Welcome Denver networking session. Welcome Denver assists new or relocated multicultural employees, representing Denver Metro Area corporations and law firms. Welcome Denver is an innovative approach to aid in the retention of ethnically-diverse employees that are high-potential, high-caliber executives.

Soon we will have new census data to make organizational decisions with the most recent demographics and determine just how colorful, “Colorful Colorado” is with regard to diversity. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that Colorado has difficulty attracting and retaining diversity in our state. During the Welcome Denver session this was again solidified.

When our organizations are successful and recruit diverse employees, the challenge becomes retaining the new hire. Ethnically-diverse employees report that they come to Colorado for a new opportunity and then have difficulty getting connected and feeling that they are welcome. I’m excited about what Welcome Denver is doing to attract, retain and acculturate multicultural employees into our state. To learn more go to www.welcomedenver.net.

Using Organizational Development best practices and my diversity background, at a former employer, I helped implement twelve Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). These groups help retain diversity and provide a safe forum for similar demographic groups to come together and strategically accomplish organizational goals. Depending on the organization, these goals may include brainstorming innovative products to grow the business, partnering with community groups to be socially responsible and identifying solutions to attract and retain diversity.

With the amount of money that our Colorado organizations are spending to attract diversity, I recommend that they implement ERGs to retain diversity. Not only does this improve attrition in the organization and help connect diverse employees; it is good for Colorado. Research shows that there will be a labor shortage and Colorado organizations need to be more proactive in addressing this issue by coming up with creative Organizational Development solutions to prepare for our future.