Research: The benefits of letting HR decide who gets an interview

A new study examined what happened when a leading multinational technology company transferred the task of shortlisting candidates from line managers to HR departments. They found that following the switch, more women were hired—even though the company had no particular aims to improve gender diversity among its male-dominated workforce. The researchers found that the hiring disparities had been due in part to time constraints on the company’s line managers, which forced them to rely on subjective data—including recommendations from colleagues and assumptions about who best fit a role—to make quick decisions so that they could return to their work. The use of subjective data likely perpetuated the company’s status quo. The HR department, on the other hand, was more likely to place greater weight on objective data about candidates and whether they fit the job description and requirements provided by managers.