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Fostering Workplace Inclusivity – A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development

what we do
Social Service Innovation / Foster Co-creation

A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development

Project Partner: Hong Kong Council of Social Services (HKCSS)

 

Background

Ethnic minorities make up a considerable share of Hong Kong’s population and they are an integral part of the city’s multicultural identity. Nevertheless, members of ethnic minorities continue to face major hurdles in accessing quality work opportunities. On one hand, many of them are left with limited job options due to language barrier; on the other, there is generally a lack of inter-cultural understanding as well as best practices to facilitate their integration into the local workplace. Without concrete actions to close the gap, minority communities are further marginalized while society at large loses out on talents.

The programme, Ethnic Minority Professional Traineeship Programme, was launched by our partner HKCSS in 2022 to promote workplace inclusivity and cultural diversity. 40 young people of diverse ethnicities were matched with local employers in business and social service sectors.

As co-creation and editorial partner of the programme, Good Lab team carried out empathy-building exercises to capture the relevant learning from experiences of the youth as well as employers, and published “A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development” with the insights for future civil society and policy efforts in workforce inclusion and diversity.

 

Our Approach

To empathise with their experiences throughout the one-year traineeship journey, and gain insights of inclusive workplace practices, the Good Lab team designed engagement activities with the trainees and employers.

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    Engagement rooted in empathy: Through a series of interviews and focus group discussions, the team facilitated honest sharing of what ethnic minority youth look for in jobs and their career, as well as the potential practical and cultural misalignment they might face in the local job market. Employers also shared their successes and failures in reconciling these differences, and discussed positive approaches to making ethnic employees feel welcomed in the workplace.
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    Knowledge exchange as part of systemic change:  The Good Lab team synthesised the insights gathered from the engagement process and published “A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development”, a publication capturing all the learning from the traineeship programme. It is hoped that this resource could serve as a handy guide for and inspire employers to take proactive steps in fostering an inclusive work place, and for talents of ethnic diversity to join Hong Kong’s workforce with confidence.

Where we see impact

  • Employers of local organisations:  The guide provides hands-on guidance in cultivating an inclusive culture to unlock untapped potential in the ethnic minority talent pool
  • Young talents from multicultural background: To foster a more friendly environment for young talents from multicultural background, making it easier for them to navigate the local workplace and setting the course for career development
  • Society: Cultural harmony and competitiveness with an economy that celebrates diversity

A Practical Guide for Cultivating Ethnic Inclusion in Talent Development
Publisher: HKCSS
Co-creation & Editorial Partner: Good Lab

 

Click the following links to read:

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