Diversity in work place
Diversity in the work place refers to issues that arise in the workplaces as a result of variety in perspectives and experiences from the different people in the work places. The work forces are made up of people of different races, heritage, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation among other characteristics. Therefore diversity in work place can be said to be appreciating otherness. That is, the qualities in the other human beings that are different from ours and that are different from those of the group we belong to. Diversity in the workplace should therefore be properly understood to establish how it can affect the performance, motivation, interaction and success of others.
The rationale of this paper is to address the whole issue of diversity in the workplaces and evaluate how different organisations are addressing it. In addition to that, the paper will discuss the how diversity in the work places can be achieved. Gender diversity and its importance will also be analysed in the paper.
Currently, cultural diversity in the workplace is very essential. The reason behind this is that the different people working in the workplace originate from different places and therefore have different life experiences. Different businesses have woken up to this reality and are appreciating this fact. The core thing about acknowledging diversity in the work place is the capacity that diversity has to inject strength into the group. This is possible if such strength will be properly valued and be properly integrated into the dynamics of the groups. Most of the work places have found it very hard to incorporate cultural diversity into their systems (Williams, 2010).
It has proved that cultural diversity in the business call for intent, and all the stakeholders in the work place must be open minded and have the willingness to incorporate culture diversity into the work place. In addition to that, the stakeholders must be non-judgemental when engaging people who are different from them. They should not look down on the values and the difference that arise in the group as a result of cultural diversity. It have been agreed on that it will definitely take a lot of effort for cultural diversity in the work place to be made strength. When work place diversity is ensured, it ensures that team spirit is enhanced. The workforce level of creativity is boosted and the workforce will feel as part of the company’s investment (Jackson, 1992).
The bottom line for workplaces is that promoting diversity has great benefits. In order to achieve the foresaid benefits, the business must put into consideration a number of factors. The hiring authorities in the workplace must ensure they adequately identify their needs. They have to evaluate themselves to find out if the work force in the work place resembles the immediate community where their business is being conducted. They have to evaluate themselves and find out if they match the demography that they serve. If the workforce does not match up with these necessities, it has to come up with a hiring team that will ensure work force diversity is implemented.
Cultural diversity in the work places is also said to have adverse effects if it is not well handled and the group may end up being weak. For instance, the people in the work place may have different interpretation of a situation or an event which may cause miscommunication in the workplace. This will impact negatively on the operations in the work place. If not well addressed, such difference may cause more awkward situation which may evoke hostility in the workplace. In the presence of people from different cultural backgrounds and race, possibility of prejudice from work mate who feel that they belong to superior races or that they have better back ground is a reality. This would also affect the organisation in a negative way since people may misinterpret behaviours and action and therefore end up into jumping onto conclusions about things (Karsten, 2006).
Diversity in the workplace can be encouraged where by the people in the upper management or by the people who work for daily wages. It does not require the work force to learn rocket science. In fact, it will only require the work force to take a dose of common sense that is healthy. The important thing that shall be required of the worker to do is to practise those simple things to ensure that fellow workers are comfortable with them. For instance the workers should pronounce the names of fellow worker in the right way. in case they have problems, they should ensure they practise it until they make it. if they try to pronounce it well the other employees will appreciate their effort rather than have their name butchered.
In addition to that, diversity in the workplace can be ensured if race related jokes are not given a chance in the workplace. Such race related jokes about religion, culture and race are in most cases based on stereotypes and they should not be allowed in the work place to avoid hurting fellow co-workers. All types of stereotypes should be prohibited in the work place whether they come from the top management or from casual workers. All assumption about other races should be avoided as well as making generalizations based on races. This will only end up emotionally damaging the persons from the racial backgrounds (HSTN. 2004).
In most work places currently, the workforce is being advised to study the cultural traditions, custom and the holidays of their fellow work mates. They are required to know at least the basics of the holidays and traditions at least to know their meaning and when they are celebrated. Fellow workmates will appreciate these moves and it will ensure that work is done in harmony with all the employees interest respected and observed (Henderson, 1994).
For diversity to be achieved in the workplace, the managers have to ensure that he or she manages diversity in the most efficient way. Successful managers are required to learn and build a tolerance culture in the work place which can only be achieved through training education and learning strategies on conflict management skills. To this extent the manager will be required to develop a strategy on recruitment that shall stress the importance of diversification. The entire staff member should be aware of the required conduct. All staff including the management should be under the same guidelines and rule that should be fair and transparent. It is important that the management to model good behaviour and ensure that cultural sensitivity is enforced (Brislin, 2008).
Gender diversity in the work places is also an important issue that have a direct relation to the business image and profitability in the modern business world. Gender diversity does not emphasise greatly in the numbers. Gender diversity in the work places is mostly interested with the mix. Researches that have been carried out with regard to this issue show that men and women think indifferent ways and have different approaches while solving problems in the work place. the mix as a result of gender diversity in the work places give the decision making table a variety of ideas with regard to success of the business. The decision making team benefits from the different perspectives brought on the decision table by the women. They help in giving points of views that nobody in the management team have ever considered as viable (Anthony, 2001).
In the long run, the business will have a good image in the global front as having complied with the affirmative action requirements as well as record better financial progress. Research has shown that work place where the staff is heterogeneous its operations are more effective. In addition to that it has been established that when people are working closely with people of the other gender are likely to find solution to difficult issues in the work place. This is because the competition among the members of the different genders wakes up enthusiasm and a special drive in people (Green, 2002). Work places where the staffs is heterogeneous are able to find solution to problem much easily as they look at the problem from all the perspectives Gender diversity in the work place can be achieved in a number of ways. The management can make its programmes in the work place more flexible such that the interest of women can be observed. Women should be empowered through trainings and workshops to improve their morale.
In conclusion, the paper has closely examined what diversity in the work places entails and has shown what it takes to achieve diversity. Diversity is an important thing in the work place if properly handled and at the same time can lead to disunity in the workplaces if not well managed. Gender diversity has been discussed and its importance’s have been established. For any workplace to be successful in the modern world of business, it has to ensure that diversity in the workplaces is well addressed.
References
Williams, C. L., & Dellinger, K. (2010). Gender and sexuality in the workplace. Bingley, UK: Emerald.
Karsten, M. F., & Praeger. (2006). Gender, race, and ethnicity in the workplace: Issues and challenges for today's organizations. Westport, Conn: Praeger Publishers
Jackson, S. E., & Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (U.S.). (1992). Diversity in the workplace: Human resources initiatives. New York: Guilford Press.
Henderson, G. (1994). Cultural diversity in the workplace: Issues and strategies. Westport, Conn: Quorum Books.
Brislin, R. W. (2008). Working with cultural differences: Dealing effectively with diversity in the workplace. Westport, Conn: Praeger.
HSTN. (2004). Diversity in the workplace. Carrollton, TX: PRIMEDIA Workplace Learning.
Green, K., & University of Florida. (2002). Diversity in the workplace. Gainesville, Fla: University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Food and Resource Economics Dept.
Anthony, K. H. (2001). Designing for diversity: Gender, race, and ethnicity in the architectural profession. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
