Diversity in the Workplace: How It Affects

Employers and Employees

Amanda H. Hardie Capstone

Florida State College at Jacksonville

Is diversity in the workplace possible?

Are the lofty goals of diversity and equality doomed to failure?

Do the laws governing workplace diversity contain enough specificity to deem them enforceable?

Inclusiveness…does the term itself promotes exclusiveness?

How will it diversity in the workplace affect my future employment goals?

In my research paper I examined the current status of diversity in the workplace, its enforcement and the power of the media, social networking and public perception influencing diversity in the workplace.

There are several federal laws: The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Equal Pay Act of 1963The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (sections 501 and 505), Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 The Civil Rights Act of 1991.

While celebrating diversity is a

somewhat daunting endeavor, it can translate into bottom-line profits for any company. From a marketing

perspective, a company that celebrates and implements a

diverse workforce stands to gain big

in the public perception of that company and its

products or services.

President, Dan Cathy, of Chick-Fil-A recently made his views on Gay marriage public. This created a storm among supporters and non-supporters.

In July 2012, Home Depot faced a boycott of more

than 540,000 people because

Home Depot publicly supports

“homosexual activism” (Vu,

2013).

On the company website, Home Depot defines it

diversity program’s mission thusly: “The mission of The

Home Depot’s Supplier Diversity Program is to form

mutually beneficial partnerships with diverse businesses that allow us to

deliver superior products and services and superb customer

service, which ultimately increase shareholder value.”

“Lowe’s longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion is a core element of our business strategy and our mission to improve

the communities we serve. Diverse perspectives help us solve everyday challenges, develop innovative ideas and grow our business. We’re dedicated to continuing to foster an inclusive culture that promotes diversity of thought and celebrates the

unique talents that each professional brings to Lowe’s. Together, we’re committed to treating every customer, employee, community,

investor and vendor with respect and dignity.”

It is clear that the path of diversity is neither simple nor clear-cut. To navigate the legal and ethical path to diversity, a company must be firstly committed to this endeavor and, secondly, committed to its implementation. This might mean investing in legal, human resource employees and work group of employees trained and paid to navigate diversity in the workplace. As an employer or employee, diversity will affect my future in business and my opportunities for advancement in business.

Resources A, W. (2013, March 10). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wajahat-

ali/a-lowes-down-dirty-shame_b_1148546.html Davis, L. (2013, March 16). Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lennard-davis/have-a-little-diversity-w_b_1734513.html

Home Depot. (2013, March 3). Retrieved from http://careers.homedepot.com/ Lemonier, L. (2013, February 20). eHow. Retrieved from

http://www.ehow.com/list_6824657_diversity-workplace-laws.html Lowes. (2013, 10 March). Retrieved from

http://responsibility.lowes.com/workplace/our-programs/diversity-and-inclusion/ Vu, M. A. (2013, February 18). Retrieved from

http://www.christianpost.com/news/over-540000-sign-home-depot-boycott-over-gay-activism-53907/