Diversity in the Workplace

Benefits and Challenges

The Changing Workplace The world’s increasing globalization requires

more interaction among people with diverse backgrounds Cultures Beliefs Backgrounds

The Changing Workplace People no longer live and work in a confined

marketplace Worldwide economy Competition from every continent

Companies need diverstiy to become more creative and open to change

Diversity Defined Diversity is generally defined as:

Acknowledging, understanding, accepting, valuing and celebrating differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice and public assistance status

Demographic Changes Changes in the workplace will increase the

need to understand diversity Women in the workplace Organizational restructuring Equal opportunity legislation

Women in the Workplace Today’s workforce has the highest levels of

employment participation ever by women The number of dual income families and

single working mothers has increased Fewer men and women in traditional family

roles

Organizational Restructuring Significant changes have been taking place as

a result of downsizing and outsourcing Trend toward longer working hours and fewer

people doing more

Legislation Federal and State equal opportunity legislation

make discrimination illegal Law specify the rights and responsibilities of both

associates and employers in the workplace Both groups are held responsible

Benefits of Diversity in the Workplace

Beneficial to both associates and employers Respecting individual differences can increase

productivity Reduce lawsuits and increase opportunities Positive business image

Challenges of Diversity in the Workplace

Managing diversity is more than acknowledging differences in people Recognize the value of differences Combating discrimination Promoting inclusiveness Loss of personnel and work productivity due to

prejudice and discrimination

Conclusion A diverse workforce is a reflection of the

changing world and marketplace Diverse work teams bring high value to

organizations Respecting individual differences will benefit

the workplace by creating a competitive edge and increasing work productivity