Diversity in the workplace

Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. In a globalized world today, diversity will increase significantly in society, especially in the workplace. Successful organizations are willing to spend resources on managing issues brought by diversity in the workplace, such as communication, adaptability and change.

Employers in all sectors of the Canadian economy are now, more than ever, focused on attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. And companies that take diversity seriously and implement effective integration strategies have greater success in achieving optimal employee performance and retention of staff. Satisfied and engaged employees are more productive and likely to stick around. Retention of employees means saving resources that would otherwise be used to recruit, hire and train new staff.

There is a wealth of skilled and talented people who are not effectively engaged in the Canadian workforce. The immigrant workforce, Canadian-born minorities, persons with disabilities and aboriginal peoples have all been overlooked in the past. Companies need to retain the talent they need in order to thrive. To achieve this, they must be equipped with an understanding of how to connect with and support these undervalued groups.

Furthermore, a skilled and coordinated diverse workforce would be able to supply a greater variety of solutions to problems in service. Employees from diverse cultural backgrounds bring individual talents, skills and experiences in suggesting ideas that are flexible in adapting to fluctuating markets and customer demands. Increased diversity also means casting a wider net to connect with a greater variety of people, and access broader and deeper networks, such as connections with potential members, new employees, and sponsors. This diversity can result in further reach, greater visibility and a much broader base of support.

As the economy becomes increasingly global, our workforce becomes increasingly diverse. Organizational success and competitiveness will depend on the ability to manage diversity in the workplace effectively.

References:

http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/diversity/diversity-in-the-workplace-benefits-challenges-solutions.asp; Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions; Josh Greenberg

http://hrcouncil.ca/hr-toolkit/diversity-workforce-matters.cfm; Why a diverse workplace matters