Tips on creating and maintaining a diverse workplace:

• Top-down commitment
Make certain your company’s top leaders and supervisors are committed to diversity. Have them help craft your diversity policies.

• Recruitment
Create opportunities for employees to interact with minority groups. Invite managers and supervisors to attend minority career fairs, colleges and conferences. Create the networks that are going to funnel diverse talent in your direction.

• Retention
Create an environment where everyone feels safe, welcome and valued. Perform climate surveys. For small organizations, this can be as simple as having lunch or coffee with your diverse employees on a periodic basis to gather their opinions.

• Accountability
Make diversity training mandatory for all managers. Reward those who value diversity in some way, even if it’s a simple thank-you note from the boss.

Source: Society for Human Resource Management