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This What is Diversity?

Diversity is defined as "recognizing, appreciating, valuing, and utilizing the unique talents and contributions of all individuals”, regardless of age, career experience, color, communication style, culture, disability, educational level or background, employee status, ethnicity, family status, function, gender, language, management style, marital status, national origin, organizational level, parental status, physical appearance, race, regional origin, religion, sexual orientation, thinking style, speed of learning and comprehension, etc.

Diversity is characterized by the differences and similarities that are applied in pursuit of organizational objectives. It is the process of planning, organizing, directing, and supporting the collective mixtures that leads to a measurable difference in organizational performance.

Is Diversity The Same As Affirmative Action?

Diversity training in many organizations has been initiated as a result of lawsuits or federal mandates and is often seen as an affirmative action approach. Diversity training typically receives low priority and is limited to the legal requirements, e.g., sexual harassment policy, workers with disabilities, equal employment programs.

Diversity covers a much larger scale, such as age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, values, language, education, lifestyle, beliefs and physical appearance Each of these characteristics can affect an employee's attitudes and behaviors in the workplace, as well as influence the ability to work effectively with other employees. In today’s workforce it is increasingly important to value diverse characteristics as everyone's opinions must be valued.

Workforce diversity has a direct impact on employee morale, productivity and profitability whether positive or negative. Diversity plays a critical role in business today; each industry has its unique and appealing qualities.

Diversity Training:

It is important to provide all employees will diversity training to help assist in understanding the following:

• Individual differences and appreciation for each other

• No one is, or should be, the target for blame of current or past biases

• Everyone sees the world through their own perceptive filters and make judgments and decisions based on familiar "knowledge"

• How and why individual work styles, interpersonal behaviors, and body language can differ from others

• How to recognize and avoid subtle forms of discrimination

• When "color blindness" can be a form of racism

• Employee's responsibility for building a culture that embraces diversity

A diverse workforce brings a wealth of ideas, innovation and drives the organization in a global sense by anticipating market changes, the needs of all customers, and building a solid foundation for future needs.