Benefits of cultural diversity in the workplace pdf

But it also has certain challenges you have to overcome to reap the benefits. Why workplace diversity is so important, and why its so. Companies who recruit and encourage individuals from a wide range of backgrounds generally gain a reputation for being a good employer. Todays post is from an article written by josh greenberg of alphameasure on the benefits and challenges relating to workplace diversity and inclusion. There are many benefits to having a diverse workplace. Benefits of diversity in the workplace gender, generation, culture greater consumer market share. Josh greenberg workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Achieving cultural diversity in the workplace can be difficult, especially in certain fields and occupations.

There are many positive aspects to diversity in the workplace, such as exchange of. Companies increasingly understand the value of recruiting and retaining diverse employees, as these workers play a critical role in a companys ability to adapt, grow and sustain a competitive advantage in the modern business landscape. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 3 where every member must listen and have the chance to speak, are good ways to create dialogues. The program was also developed to ensure that the message of the scanlon foundations taste of harmony campaign is translated into ongoing action at the enterprise level. Oct 12, 2015 here are a few of the top benefits or diversity in the workplace. Cultural competence and benefits access introduction e very day thousands of benefits counselors help older adults of diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds with limited income and resources to access benefits that help pay their health care, prescription, food. From our research, we identified three different perspectives on workforce diversity that people embrace, each with different implications for a work groups ability to realize the benefits of its cultural diversity. Business advantages of diversity in the workplace the united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce. The research question of the study is has workplace diversity contributed to organizational success. Businesses should prioritize hiring diverse employees because of the many great things associated with it.

Economic globalization is one of the driving forces of cultural diversity in the workplace. The responsibility for dealing with diversity issues belongs to every employee in the company. Diversity in the workplace leads to a plethora of benefits. Cultural competence and benefits access introduction e very day thousands of benefits counselors help older adults of diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds with limited income and resources to access benefits that help pay their health care, prescription, food, and energy costs. The worlds increasing development requires more interaction between people from different backgrounds. Diversity, workplace, cultural mentoring, organisation. Diverse cultural perspectives can inspire creativity and drive innovation. Pdf advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in the. A diverse workforce can seize a larger consumer market segment. A company that embraces cultural diversity in the workplace would immediately entices a wider pool of candidates for its job vacancies.

What are the advantagesdisadvantages of cultural diversity. Diversity of values we all value different things in different ways. Barriers and benefits of diversity in the workplace. Faculty of health sciences, durban university of technology kev words abstract. Second, managers must recognize their own cultural biases and prejudices koonce, 2001. The varying interpretations of the key words, used to define values and principles. Employers have realized that workforce diversity provides both material and intangible benefits. In this way, diversity is a key ingredient to growing a strong and inclusive economy thats built to last. Looking at how leaders, managers and nonmanagerial employees view diversity, it. And the benefits of true workplace diversity are so obviously attractive that the challenges inherent in it simply have to be addressed. In order to answer the research question the author defined the following objectives of the study. Challenges of diversity include communication problems, resistance to change, differences of opinions and stereotyping. It is your job to make the most of the diversity present in your company.

Diversity in the workplace benefits and challenges. However, your hr department has official duties regarding diversity and can provide advice or guidance if you have questions. Benefits and disadvantages of diversity in the workplace. We outline eight amazing benefits of cultural diversity in the workplace having a more diverse team has been proven to help your company in many ways. The modern workplace is a mosaic of different ideas, beliefs and opinions, which taken together create an atmosphere of cultural diversity.

Diversity in the workplace means that a companys workforce includes people of varying gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, religion, languages, education, abilities, etc. Embracing cultural diversity in the workplace is an important first step for businesses that want to be competitive on an international scale. Introduction workplace diversity is the issue of people, focus on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. When a workplace has a number of different demographics it gives the company a much broader skill set to draw upon, including cultural understanding and foreign language. She noted the impacts of cultural diversity on problemsolving, decisionmaking. Stephen butler, cochair of the businesshigher education forum, believes diversity is an invaluable competitive asset robinson 2002. Cultural diversity in the workplace can shape how employers operate. The research proven advantages to cultural diversity in the workplace include increased innovation, greater connection with diverse consumers, and increased ability to attract and retain diverse employees, to name a few. Pdf the acceptance and management of cultural diversity have been promoted. It can contribute to an organizations efficiency and create a competitive advantage. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. In other words, a diverse workforce includes people with different characteristics. One of the clearest, though not as often quoted, benefits of a diverse workplace is that it is less likely that an employer will be the subject of. Feb 04, 2017 the answer to this question depends on the context.

Among those disadvantages were increased ambiguity, complexity, and confusion. What are the benefits of diversity in the workplace. When youre involved in a situation characterized by cultural diversity, your cq is the multiplying force that predicts whether you experience positive or. The issue of managing cultural diversity is a primary concern for many international organisations. Diversity is not about differences among groups, but rather about dif.

Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace bizfluent. For starters, organizations that commit to recruiting a diverse workforce have a larger pool of applicants to choose from, which can lead to finding more qualified candidates and reducing the time it takes to fill vacant positions. Achieving cultural diversity can require a nuanced level of understanding of your employees and your surrounding environment. The modern workforce is made up of people of different genders, ages, ethnicity, religions, and nationalities. Here is a partial list of the positive impacts a diverse workforce has on businesses of all types. Each of the potential advantages and disadvantages she listed is. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality. Racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace peoplescout. Here are some benefits of a workplace that hires teams. Explain benefits and limitations of workplace diversity. The benefits of racial and ethnic diversity in the workplace.

Managing diversity well provides a distinct advantage in an era when flexibility and creativity are keys to competitiveness. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. The benefits of workplace diversity greatly outweigh the barriers you may have to cross to get there. Its illegal for employers to discriminate against employees based on their cultural diversity. Pdf advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity. Although associates are interdependent in the workplace, respecting individual differences can increase productivity. When youre involved in a situation characterized by cultural diversity, your cq is the multiplying force that predicts whether you experience positive or negative benefits from diversity. Hiring a diverse staff for your business creates a workforce that possesses a wide range of skills, talents and ideas. Challenges exist in guiding a population that differs in personalities and cultures, but. By defining key cultural values, employers can better understand their workforce and.

Lets look at the top 10 economic benefits of workplace diversity. Local market knowledge and insight makes a business more competitive. The effects of cultural diversity in the workplace clute journals. Workplace cultural diversity and its advantages diversity. It creates multiple layers of administrative management to juggle. Managers should implement policies such as mentoring programs to provide associates access to information and opportunities. Managing diversity well provides a distinct advantage in an era when. This is because it allows a company to bring people from different backgrounds, thus enabling the organization to better understand the different cultures, races or genders that make up the consumer market. From the virgin group to disney and pricewaterhousecoopers, organizations across industries are embracing the benefits of a diverse workforce. Diversity in the workplace is an issue that still goes on today. Diversity in the workplace can reduce lawsuits and increase marketing opportunities, recruitment, creativity, and business image. People no longer live and work in a narrowminded environment.

The normal conflicts, gossiping and backbiting that occur soon after people come together in groups and or teams. Although, throughout time it has improved greatly, there are still some problems with diversity in the workplace. We discuss benefits and challenges of a diverse workplace. Workplace diversity despite having numerous benefits does have its flaws. The equal employment opportunity commission promotes equal opportunity and handles complaints about workplace discrimination. Diversity is beneficial to both associates and employers. Workplace diversity despite having numerous benefits. An introduction to culture and diversity in the workplace 2.

The cultural intelligence of the individuals on a diverse team determines whether the teams diversity promotes or deters innovation. Diversity in the workplace refers to an organization that intentionally employs a workforce comprised of individuals of varying gender, religion, race, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, and other attributes. Youll also learn about actionnable tips you can use for your team and in your company. And cultural diversity in the workplace, while valuable, can sometimes lead to challenges if employers arent aware of the key aspects of the culture and how to address them. More importantly, it estimates that from 1998 to 2008 some 41 percent of the people entering the u. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as. Jan 25, 2020 embracing diversity also cuts down on legal costs. Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Inherent diversity is biological traits such as race, gender, and sexual orientation, while acquired diversity is things you gain from experience like religion, cultural experiences, and situations that make an impact on your thoughtprocess.

The impact of workplace diversity on organisations core. Having a culturally diverse workforce can result in a competitive advantage for. List of the disadvantages of diversity in the workplace. The answer to this question depends on the context. Diverse workforce is a double edged sword that generates both. May 24, 2019 benefits of diversity in the workplace gender, generation, culture greater consumer market share.

Federal laws prohibit workplace discrimination in six areas. The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l. And we hope that the four steps outlined above will, at. Here are a few of the top benefits or diversity in the workplace. Top 10 benefits of diversity in the workplace infographic. It is an important step for businesses looking to become competitive at a global level. Workplace diversity should be one of the top things businesses today should address. A diverse group has increased adaptability, a variety of viewpoints on an issue and innovation. Pdf advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in. Our culture influences the way in which we see the world.

Another benefit of cultural diversity in the workplace is the positive reputation that the company would receive. According to a 2016 survey conducted by shrm, 43% of companies offer floating holidays which permit their employees to take time off because of their cultural or religious preferences. Individuals from diverse backgrounds can offer a selection of different talents, skills, and experiences, that may be of benefit to the organization and their work performance. The research proven advantages to cultural diversity in the workplace include increased innovation, greater connection with diverse consumers, and increased ability to attract and retain diverse. Cultural diversity brings together people with various skills, creativity and knowledge for effective productivity. Increased innovation is the result of cultural diversity being positively. Importance of cultural diversity in the workplace deputy. Companies that embrace and value these cultural differences can not only reduce conflict and increase regulatory compliance but also transform cultural diversity into a competitive advantage. But even today, although it has become part of the. Diversity in the workplace leads to a plethora of benefits both from an internal and external perspective.