08. CREATING WORKPLACE DIVERSITY

 

Figure 1 : workplace diversity 

INTRODUCTION 

Workplace diversity results when companies make it a point to hire people who have different characteristics, such as ethnicity, religion, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientation, and gender. The goal is to create a culture where individual differences are respected and all employees are treated equally and receive the same opportunities for growth and advancement.

The benefits of inclusion are well known. These include increased collaboration, higher employee engagement, reduced turnover, improved profits, and stronger brand identity.

While diversity and inclusivity are among the most commonly-cited corporate values nowadays, they are also two of the most complicated goals to plan for and achieve.

However, the rewards of having a diverse workforce are tremendous. These rewards can include a variety of perspectives, more creativity, and a better company reputation. A more inclusive environment where everyone is heard and appreciated should be every company's priority.


TYPES OF DIVERSITY 

Surface-level Diversity

Diversity in the form of characteristics of individuals that are readily visible, including, but not limited to, age, body size, visible disabilities, race or sex.

Deep-level Diversity       

Diversity characteristics that are non-observable such as attitudes, values, and beliefs, such as religion.

Hidden diversity               

Diversity characteristics that are deep-level but may be concealed or revealed at the discretion by individuals who possess them, such as sexual orientation.


Figure 2 : Creating diverse workplace  

CREATING A DIVERSE WORKPLACE CULTURE.

 

1. Leverage diverse job boards.

Post openings on job boards that specialize in diversity. Examples of these include Diversity Working, one of the largest online diversity job boards, Recruit Disability, which helps locate potential employees with disabilities.  

2. Highlight diversity on the career page on your website.

Be sure company’s diversity statement and any current initiatives are obvious on your career page. 

3. Provide targeted internships and scholarships. 

Provide high-value internships and scholarships to employees from under-represented groups that will help them advance more quickly in key roles.  

4. Offer diverse mentorships. 

Mentorship programs help ensure everyone has the opportunity to advance and also create closer employee relationships.  

5. Conduct diversity training. 

It is likely the executive team and other leaders will require diversity training. which will likely surprise them when it points out their shortcomings. They can then take this new awareness to launch meaningful cultural and sensitivity training throughout the organization. 
 
6. Reward diverse referrals. 

Offer rewards to employees for recommending diverse candidates who join the company.
 
7. Celebrate employee differences. 

Invite employees to share their backgrounds and traditions in the workplace, including religious and cultural practices.  
 
8. Unconscious bias training for recruiters.

For even the most experienced recruiters, being unbiased is one of the biggest challenges in hiring. Recruiters, hiring managers, and others who participate in the hiring process should be aware of potential biases. Train HR staff to recognize and avoid bias in the recruitment and hiring process, which may require outside consultants.
 
9. Incorporate diversity into company policies and practices. 

Develop or amend workplace policies to be more inclusive and diversity-friendly, from hiring practices to performance reviews, promotions, and benefits. 

10. Strengthen anti-discriminatory policies. 

Conduct a thorough review of existing policies and do the required amendments 

Figure 3 : Benefits of workplace diversity   


BENEFITS OF WORKPLACE DIVERSITY

Having a diverse and multicultural workplace brings several advantages.

Increased productivity: A diverse workplace allows for more ideas and processes. This diversity of talent means a broader range of skills among employees, as well as a diversity of experiences and perspectives which increases the potential for increased productivity

Increased creativity: As various cultures and backgrounds work together, the opportunity for increased creativity exists. This is because there are more people with differing perspectives and solutions to problems, allowing for a greater chance of a workable solution to a workplace problem.

Improved cultural awareness: A diverse range of cultures within the workplace allows companies to deal with the different nuances within a global marketplace.  

A positive reputation: Companies that have a diverse workplace are often perceived as better employers. Potential employees want an employer who accepts and is tolerant of all backgrounds and who treats their employees fairly.

Increase in marketing opportunities: If potential employees or customers see that a company represents a diverse workplace, it makes them feel like they can relate to the company more. 


CONCLUSION

Workplace diversity can take company to a whole new level. Diversity is a competitive advantage. In order to leverage on this advantage, organizations need to learn to embrace diversity and make it an integral part of their work affairs. it is not only good for employers and employees, but is also good for the welfare of the company. With a Diverse workplace, everyone will be more open-minded with their co-workers. Also, having diverse workers benefits the company because they could be the ones to make positive ties with other companies and bring in new customers.

Achieving workplace diversity means you are bringing out the very best of your employees and allowing them to reach their full potential. By doing so, your workplace benefits as it encourages a more varied and innovative talent pool.


REFERENCES  

  • https://diversityandrights.weebly.com/conclusion.html#:~:text=With%20a%20Diverse%20workplace%2C%20everyone,and%20bring%20in%20new%20customers.
  • Diversity is a key element for worker engagement and productivity, by Mark Crawford, Feb 3, 2021
  • https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/educationleadershipmanagement/chapter/11-1-introduction-to-workplace-diversity/
  • Types of Diversity , Copyright Rice University, OpenStax,
  • https://peepshr.co.uk/2019/08/27/the-importance-of-diversity-in-the-workplace/
  • The Importance Of Diversity In The Workplace, By Peepshr, August 27, 2019
  • https://abilityoptions.org.au/5-benefits-of-diversity-in-the-workplace/


Comments

  1. Madushika Sugathaghana15 April 2024 at 19:08

    Employer and employee should understand work place diversity.Important topic

    ReplyDelete

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