4 Well-Known Diversity In The Workplace Examples
The Facts
Q&A
Diversity in the workplace refers to the inclusion of employees who contribute their own distinct identities, ethnicities, races, personal experiences, physical and psychological characteristics, and so on. In recent years, the concept of workplace inclusion and diversity has expanded and is ensuring that corporations increase minority involvement, performance, and remuneration, rather than merely symbolic employment to 'check a box.'
More significantly, businesses have realized the enormous benefit that hiring a varied range of people and characteristics can bring to their organization. In this write-up, we will look at types of diversity in a workplace and some examples of how it has affected organizations.
Types of Workplace Diversity
- Age Diversity
People of various ages contribute a variety of talents and personal experiences to the workplace, which may be beneficial in several ways for a variety of jobs.
- Gender Diversity
Moving beyond outmoded, male-dominated workplace prejudices and actively making efforts to welcome both genders into all levels of an organization, starting from entry-level employees to executives, can have a significant, transformative effect.
- Gender Identity and Assigned Sex
Another essential component in fostering workplace diversity is recognizing and helping people of all sexual orientations.
- Race and Nationality
Effective diverse workplace embraces individuals of all races and ethnicities, contributing their diverse experiences and abilities to a successful, cohesive workforce.
- Language and Accent
Assisting in the breakdown of language and accent barriers, as well as bringing in folks who may not sound like everybody else in the organization, is crucial for achieving the full diversity initiatives that successful organizations want.
- Religious and Spiritual Views
A harmonious and productive company may be achieved by creating a varied and inclusive workplace culture that embraces people of various religious beliefs.
- Education
It's critical to recruit people from a variety of educational qualifications to ensure that the workplace is diverse. One of the most important features of workplace inclusion and diversity is educational diversification.
- Character and Cognitive Style
In the workplace, a wide mix of characters and work habits helps to fill in deficiencies, promote innovation, and create highly effective teams.
- Work Experience
Others with vast experience in the field are aware of the valuable ins and outs, whilst those with knowledge in other industries (or those new to the workforce) may be able to provide fresh perspectives and ideas that may make a significant impact.
- Financial Situation
A varied workplace should, ideally, assist in bringing everyone engaged to a degree of financial security.
Diversity in the Workplace and How it is Achieved: Examples
When it concerns workplace diversity and inclusion, there seem to be hundreds of scenarios that may be considered instances of different forms of diversity. We'll look at some instances of firms that are getting it right, as well as those who have gotten it wrong and then had to overcome it.
The principles apply to small firms as well, even though the examples offered here are of larger corporations.
- Uber
Uber's previous CEO and co-founder, Travis Kalanick, was obliged to quit in June 2017 after claims of a workplace culture rife with sexual discrimination and misconduct.
In the immediate wake, more people were terminated. In fact, a top executive was forced to step down after trying to make a sexist joke in a special meeting, and twenty staff members were reprimanded after investigators revealed they failed to answer several of the 215 cases of notified sexual harassment, verbal abuse, retribution, and prejudices.
Uber apologized for the sexist advertisement and removed it after users complained on Twitter that it was perpetuating sexist stereotypes. It's a sluggish start to an uncertain future, but one that will ideally lead to a more secure workplace for women.
Takeaway
As a company owner, it's critical to hold your HR department responsible while also ensuring that they hold themselves accountable. When judging women vs. males, professionals must become more conscious of the terminology they use. Without the use of gender assumptions, technology can assist businesses in achieving their objectives. Because software is free of gender bias, it can assist you in creating a more balanced organization.
- Accenture
Accenture, a global advisory and technical services organization, works with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500 and has customers in over 120 countries and 40 sectors. Diversity in the workforce is at the heart of these accomplishments.
Accenture has a longstanding experience of managing diversity as a basis of creativity, development, and strategic advantage. Leadership is keeping the firm responsible in a very visible place. It is one of the first digital companies to reveal its staff demographics and efforts toward organizational diversity standards.
Takeaway:
Is this a hazardous strategy? Perhaps. Is it effective? Certainly!
Accenture is substantially on its way to creating a dynamic team that is highly inclusive of all racial and ethnic origins, as well as veterans, military members, and individuals with disabilities, as per the most recently available statistics.
Accenture, which is currently ranked in the top ten of DiversityInc's 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity, aspires to be the world's most diverse and multicultural corporation.
- L’Oréal
L'Oréal, a Forbes Top Multinational Performer, has a foothold in 130 countries across five continents. It would have been an understatement to suggest that appreciation for racial diversity has been at the heart of this company's performance.
To mention a few of its numerous worldwide projects, L'Oréal funds disability awareness seminars in India, matches staff with multicultural students in the Netherlands, and provides training to young individuals in disadvantaged Pakistani areas.
Takeaway:
Employees who take part in diversity training have a greater awareness of their coworkers' perspectives and are motivated to think about how their actions can offend someone inadvertently. Enhanced workplace sensitivity is a powerful tool in the fight against harassment in the workplace.
The company is well-known for providing a diverse and inclusive training program for employees at all levels across the world. L'Oréal also ranks first in terms of gender balance, with women accounting for 69 percent of the employees and 53 percent of important roles.
- Banana Republic
In late 2017, a caucasian Banana Republic shop manager warned a black employee that until she removed her braids, which he claimed were inappropriate for the retailer's branding, he would just not book her days.
This event demonstrates that people of many ethnic backgrounds continue to endure physical prejudice. The supervisor, a white person, told the employee that her dreadlocks were "too 'urban' and 'unkempt,'" and even gave her advice regarding how to properly care for her hair. The employee promptly posted about this on her Facebook account, where it quickly went viral.
The Banana Republic proceeded quickly to investigate the situation, eventually firing the supervisor and publicly apologizing for his actions. This also conveyed a strong message to other workers that there would be no tolerance for racial prejudice, whether at the workplace or in the community.
Takeaway:
This incidence is the result of a lack of knowledge about other races, nationalities, and civilizations, as well as an apparent lack of training. The employee was penalized exclusively for her attractiveness, not for her ability to do the job.
Hence, it is important to ensure that staff and management are well-versed in corporate policies to avoid similar incidents. Make it plain that institutional racism is unacceptable and illegal and that any events of this nature will not be permitted.
In a Nutshell
While the above-mentioned list of examples is far from thorough, it is a good place to start for anybody looking for ideas. These businesses are setting the way for an optimistic prospect in which employees will be able to interact with people from all walks of life.