Diversity is the uniqueness which every employee brings to the workplace in an organization or establishment. Examples of differences include nationality, belief, disabilities, physical appearance, race, gender, age, educational background, sexual orientation, and work experience, social and family status. At the workplace, valuing diversity means creating a work environment that respects and includes individual variation by maximizing the potential of all employees or in which every employee feels included. It means acknowledging that other people, other races, other voices, and other cultures have an equal claim on the world. Valuing diversity is the recognition that there are many ways of viewing the world, solving problems, and working together. Workplace diversity is the differences people bring in an organization. It encompasses learning and interacting with people who share different opinions, backgrounds from us and creating an environment which fosters diverse views and opinions. It does not only involve how people perceive or relate to themselves but how they perceive others and these perceptions do affect their interactions. “Most diversity experts believe that the significant distinctions are race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, nation of origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical abilities, occupation, and class” (Leo Parvis, 2003). Complications begin from workplace difficulties to diversity which can disorganize and create a hostile environment. These threats, if not exposed and resolved through effective leadership, will lead to loss of potential and ultimately failure in the undertakings of the organization. Furthermore, diversity is in an elevated studying curve and similar to others continuin... ... middle of paper ... ...ity is an important aspect in the workplace. We need diversity to offer the best service to customers, employees, affiliated companies, and share holders. Diversity offers personal difference in the people we work with. It is every employee's responsibility to ensure diversity is valued in the workplace. In every organization, employees should be open-minded and treat others with dignity, respect, courtesy and consideration and not tolerate harassment or discrimination. This creates a workplace that encourages learning and associating with people from diverse groups. With a diverse working environment and an equally diverse opportunity, the sky is the limit to what you can achieve during your career. In addition to a very important requirement when people deal with diversity is when there is a promotion of a "safe" place for people to communicate (Koonce, 2001).
Workplace diversity is similarities and differences among employees in terms of age, cultural background, physical abilities and disabilities, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, education personality. It is how people perceive others and how they perceive themselves. Those perceptions affect their interactions. For most of us it is a lifelong process of learning and dealing successfully with diversity.(Diversity in the work place, Oregon.gov)
Within an organization, diversity is considered a having a population of people that are of different races or cultures working collectively. From this collection of people, a variance of perspective is formed and talent is fostered in order to maximize performance. These great minds work
With the increase in globalization, interactions and communication among workplace employees requires diverse backgrounds, cultures and beliefs to coexist. Humans now work in an isolated workplace; we are a part of an economy with worldwide competition generating from all corners of the world. Diversity is needed within profit and nonprofit companies in order to be more effective; these companies must welcome change and adjustments. Diverse employees and environments will help companies to become more creative and successful. Workplace diversity has become an important issue for management nowadays in an attempt expands the workplace structure.
Diversity is a reality in today’s workplace. It shouldn’t be merely tolerated but valued for what it brings to the organization. ‘It’s not about assisting the individual to “fit into” the corporate culture by “fixing” what is different about them.1
... cultural and personal differences among the people who work there and the customers who do business there (Williams, 2014.) This statement alone is representative of the majority of businesses operating today. With that in mind, organizations should welcome and encourage the benefits of diversity because not only is it the legal thing to do, it is also the ethical thing to do.
Gender, racial, and ethnic diversity means different things to different people. Some believe that diversity is about quotas, and affirmative action. Others believe that diversity is something that will happen on its own with out intervention. Some experts who study diversity, however, believe that diversity is not something that should be left up to chance. It is important, therefore, for organizations to take action to encourage and foster diversity in the workplace (Clarke, 1995, p. 13).
Workplace diversity is one of the most key elements that any business and corporation must have and utilize. The numerous types of workplace diversity are what make us function so well both as a society and as effective businesses. The purpose to having a diverse workplace is to expand the knowledge and experience of all that are within that company. These diversity aspects are what make a successful and highly functioning work environment. Diverse workplace is critical because it embodies a compilation of all human ideas, cultures and backgrounds put into an inventive and forward thinking group of individuals. Managing individuals are looking for an A-team group type atmosphere that will be highly functioning with inventive ideas and able to apply all sorts of ideals garnered from there co-workers because of the diversity.
Diversity in the workplace is very important in today’s global workforce because workers in the economy all over the world are currently made up of many different ethnicities, varied cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. People that are involved in management such as managers, and supervisors could greatly benefit from being accustomed to diversity in the workplace because their job entails dealing with a multicultural work environment on a daily basis. Knowing how to handle diversity in the workforce and having the necessary skills for supervisors would be beneficial not only to them but also to the success of the company and economy because a strong, diversified workforce will create a more “creative, innovative, and productive workforce.” (Kerby, 2012).
Workforce diversity at the international level encompasses race, ethnic groups, gender, sexual orientation, educational background, socioeconomic and cultural statuses and norms (Pringle & Ryan, 2015). Diversity goes beyond how individuals at the workplace view themselves and touches on how people perceive their colleagues, bosses and their organisation (Greenberg, 2010). Adaptability, change and communication are some of the core issues that management and human resource departments have to handle well to address issues of diversity and perception towards diversity. The benefits associated with diversity include increased adaptability, broad range of service, divergent view points, and effective implementation of tasks (Greenberg,
The impact of diversity in the workplace is contingent upon several factors. Across companies diversified workforces are becoming increasingly common. To successfully manage a diverse workforce, organizations are ensuring that employees understand how their values and stereotypes influence their behavior toward others of different gender, ethnic, racial, or religious backgrounds; are gaining an appreciation of cultural differences among themselves; and behaviors that isolate or intimidate minorities are being improved (Noe et al., 2010, pg. 302).
Managing workplace diversity well requires the creation of an wide-ranging environment that values and utilizes the contribution of people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspective. All organizations policies, practices and processes that impact on the lives of employees need to recognize the potential benefits that can be derived from having access to range of perspectives and to take account of these differences in managing the workplace. Work systems, organizational structures, performance appraisal measurements, recruitment and selection practices and career development opportunities all have impact on the organizational behavior upon the management of diversity.
Diversity in the workplace is important for employees because it manifests itself in building a great reputation for the company, leading to increased profitability and opportunities for workers. Making sure all members, students, parents and guarding’s are welcomed at all times in a well-mannered environment Workplace diversity is important within the organization as well as outside ensuring all different are put aside and everyone can come together and work well as a great team.
Businesses that promote diversity in today's global marketplace are better able to attract and retain the best talent. Employing a diverse workforce allows a company to utilize the potential within the job market to its fullest and contributes to overall economic growth and prosperity. Differences among co-workers should not divide a workplace. Rather, differences among co-workers should be used to foster creativity and innovation, thereby driving profitability and business success.
The researcher believes, in this fast-changing era, any kind of company or organization should be able to improve the quality of workplace diversity by having some important main factor to boost the new paradigm of a diverse workplace, such as:
Diversity is all around us and how organizations deal with the notion of diversity can be complex and quite diverse. We know that being diverse in the workplace is important to the organization's success, should be recognized, accepted, and embraced. It’s how the organizations live up to what they believe in and must go above and beyond legal compliance and requirements to promoting diversity and inclusion. Otherwise, employees may view the organization's vision and policies as lip service and only be tolerant of diversity because the organization said so.