The COVID-19 pandemic has brought everyone to their knees. The virus did not spare the first-world countries and multi-billion businesses. The same is true for well-funded startups and top-earning employees.
Nations and people on top of the economic pyramid crumbled. But imagine what life looks like for those below them. News of companies laying off people is everywhere.
No one can stop the pandemic. But there’s a lot of ways to help these laid-off employees and those actively seeking employment.
How the Pandemic is Affecting the Marginalized Sectors
One of the most susceptible to COVID-19 and unemployment is the marginalized sectors. These include women, veterans, and members of the LGBTQ community. Others are workers of colour and individuals from low-income communities.
The statistics are crippling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that veterans are experiencing anxiety. They also worry about the high risk of contracting the virus.
This is on top of their concerns for their survival in civilian society. These worries can contribute to the onset of mental health issues. Because of limitations in resource access, they also find it hard to make a living as a civilian.
Another data shows a disproportionate worker representation from racial minority and low-income backgrounds. Decent work opportunities are also lacking among low-income workers performing essential tasks.
Women managing extra unpaid workloads were also stressed. These are among the many reasons employment placement agencies should give these people a chance.
Why You Should Give Marginalized Sectors a Chance
There are many justifications on why it’s ethical and appropriate to hire from the marginalized sectors. It’s a moral choice because it’s not supposed to be right to discriminate against individuals.
Some employers base their qualifications on an applicant’s age, colour, gender, race, and background. Regardless of these, if candidates are skilled and credible to fill the job post, companies should give them a chance.
Since everyone suffers from the pandemic, maybe it’s time to be more empathetic. It’s only fitting to show compassion to the marginalized.
Below are a couple of points that can argue the importance of hiring from these sectors:
They are as skilled as other people with comparable skills.
Some employers pass on some applicants they feel do not have enough experience. They may believe that they are not fit to do office work.
This mindset is discriminatory because it is based on presumptions instead of facts. Those belonging to the marginalized sector could be at par with other applicants. If given a chance, they could show their competitive side as well.
They have a deep sense of duty and urgency.
Companies hiring new and inexperienced employees experience high attrition rates. The employee impressed them with their exceptional resume. But, they can be quick to resign when bored or see better employment opportunities. Though these circumstances are normal, it reflects poorly on its retention efforts. The company will suffer from the repercussions of losing a newly-hired employee.
A study shows that marginalized sectors have unequal access to decent work. They also experience workplace discrimination.
All these lead to harsher impacts on their respective economic conditions. If you give them good work opportunities, you’re not only helping them improve their lives. You are also hiring someone who has a sense of urgency to do good in their source of livelihood.
This same sense of urgency can also make them exceed their employer’s expectations. They work not for the money but because they have a moral responsibility to their company.
This passion for repaying their employer’s trust is a valuable trait in itself. It’s rare to come across an employee who’s not only in it for the money.
Takeaway
You’ll exert the same effort when you hire from the marginalized sectors. You will still spend time coaching and teaching them how to get things done. If you train them well and give them a chance, they’ll thrive.
But the returns of your trust investment could grow tenfolds. You can be gaining an able and reliable employee. You can also be getting someone willing to go the extra mile to meet their moral obligation. Now, that’s more than a financial ROI.
