By integrating workers from culturally diverse backgrounds into their workforce companies become much stronger. 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. However, one faction of the diversity push that seems to be playing catchup within the workplace is age diversity. Business advantages of diversity in the work place an.
Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. People no longer live and work in a narrowminded environment. Embracing cultural diversity in the workplace is an important first step for businesses that want to be competitive on an international scale. More importantly, it estimates that from 1998 to 2008 some 41 percent of the people entering the u. The benefits of disability diversity in the workplace. 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. That sounds simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Advantages and disadvantages of workplace diversity.
Pros and cons of age diversity in the workplace wisestep. Why workplace diversity is so important, and why its so. Advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in the workplace working paper pdf available january 2016 with 39,525 reads how we measure reads. Difference of advantages and disadvantages of diversity. Cultural diversity has been part of indias history, and. Workplace diversity is not just an inclusion fad it has tangible and direct benefits. But diversity and inclusion doesnt just involve how we think about ourselves, it includes our interactions with others. For a majority of workers in america, they say that they love going to work because of the relationships. Looking at how leaders, managers and nonmanagerial employees view diversity, it. Shifting gears from advantages of workplace diversity for organizations, jill leviticus focuses this article on the benefits diversity has on the employees. The worlds increasing development requires more interaction between people from different backgrounds. The importance of diversity in the workplace there are clear signs in the latest leadership, employment and direction l. Managing cultural diversity is one of the key factors differentiating a particular company at factors such as 1 efficient work practices or procedures, 2 technological innovation or change, 3 product or services related innovation.
Ibm has made headlines recently over suspected age discrimination, following the filing of a class action on behalf of three recently fired employees. It provides a general defini tion for diversity, discusses the benefits of. Aluko, olabisi onabanjo university, nigeria abstract. Survey results that organisations are slowly awakening to the positive benefits available through a diverse workforce. While organizations are seeking to create a workplace that is inclusive of gender, race, and sexual orientation just to name a few, many are also now seeking the value in the diversity of thought. The impact of workplace diversity on organisations core. It is an understanding that individuals are unique and different. Practical examples of diversity in the workplace are demonstrated by companies that are household names. It provides a general defini tion for workplace diversity, discusses the benefits and challenges of managing diverse workplaces, and presents effective strategies. Companies who have greater workplace diversity outperform. Okoro and washington 2012 believe innovation when based on a diverse workforce provides an opportunity for competitive advantage through improved. This comes after a report published earlier this year claiming that the tech giant has laid off more than 20,000 employees over the age of forty. To handle such issues, many companies incorporate diversity training in their training agenda. It describes the complex physical, sociological or.
Still, companies of any size can also provide positive examples of diversity in the workplace. Cultural diversity acknowledges the existence of broad cultural groups within indian culture. Businesses are recognizing the need and importance of investing in diversity and inclusion as part of their overall talent management practices and to continually challenge their organizations to make the connection between those principles and their corporate performance. Implementing diversity in the workplace is a huge commitment, and theres no handbook you can just borrow from another organization. When organizations actively assess their handling of workplace diversity issues, develop and implement diversity plans, multiple benefits are reported such as. Here are a few of the top benefits or diversity in the workplace. The answer to this question depends on the context. The second part of the study explains the advantages of workplace diversity as. 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 question of the study is has workplace diversity contributed to organizational success.
It creates multiple layers of administrative management to juggle. Diversity in the workforce journal of education and human. The united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. Having a culturally diverse workforce can result in a competitive advantage for. The correlation implied diversity contributed to creativity and effectiveness in productive ways. Pdf can be opened on any device with any operating system in exactly the.
Gender diversity is beneficial for both women and the organizations. The advantages and disadvantages of age diversity in the. Opponents and proponents of the issue sight many reasons for their positions. Some industries that are known to be insular, such as tech and law, are finding that pursuing talent with. In a diverse workplace, employees are more likely remain loyal when they feel respected and valued for. But as all know, there is equally some disadvantages of diversity in the workplace related to age. Although, throughout time it has improved greatly, there are still some problems with diversity in the workplace. Although smaller companies may not receive public recognition for their diversity initiatives, they can still experience the advantages of a. The entrepreneur perceives an opportunity and often exhibits biases in taking the decision to exploit the opportunity. Top 10 benefits of diversity in the workplace infographic. 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.
In order to answer the research question the author defined the following objectives of the study. Pdf is often associated with paperless office and used for printing and designing. Diversity in the workplace benefits and challenges. Business advantages of diversity in the workplace the united states office of employment predicts that 29 percent of the u. Diversity in the workplace seeks out experts who excel in their chosen career, job. If you work in a traditional office setting, what is it that makes you feel comfortable while you are there. Managing diversity is a key component of effective people management in the workplace black enterprise 2001. Equal opportunity should be apparent in any workplace. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in multicultural organizations patrick a. Benefits and disadvantages of diversity in the workplace. Leviticus states, when employees learn how they benefit from diversity, they might be more willing to embrace the concept and comply with company directives.
In other words, a diverse workforce includes people with different characteristics. Explain benefits and limitations of workplace diversity. Gender diversity ensures a gender balanced and better workforce. Advantages and disadvantages of pdf format logaster. Diversity training is an initiative taken by most companies to create awareness of diversity issues and bring about cohesiveness in teams. Workplace diversity despite having numerous benefits. Consequently, modern day organisations need to address the causes of these issues to exploit the benefits of wpd. Stephen butler, cochair of the businesshigher education forum, believes diversity is an invaluable competitive asset robinson 2002. The advantages of age diversity in the workplace people. Diversity can create workers who are overqualified for some jobs. Organizations who actively promote gender diversity in the workplace will increase the companys understanding on preferences for women and children. Diversity the concept of diversity is based on individual acceptance and respect.
Impact of workplace diversity society of interdisciplinary business. Aligning diversity practices with unique organizational goals. Managers should implement policies such as mentoring programs to provide associates access to information and opportunities. There are many advantages and disadvantages of managing diversity. There are many positive aspects to diversity in the workplace, such as exchange of ideas because of the. 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. With a population of just slightly lower than men, women make up about 49.
When most of us think of diversity in the workplace, factors such as age, race, gender and cultural background spring to mind. There can be no question that diversity has become the hot topic in todays modern workplace. Businesses have scrambled to hire an increasingly wide range of employees from various ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations. Pdf workplace diversity wpd is a holistic concept that denotes the differences that exist between people working within an organisation. Workplace diversity wpd is a holistic concept that denotes the differences that exist between people working within an organisation. For example, of the 50 countries ranked, only the u. Hiring managers focus on leadership qualities too often. Among the advantages of diversity in the workplace are. Challenges, issues and advantages of gender diversity in. Pdf prospects and challenges of workplace diversity in. This paper is designed for managers to effectively manage diverse workforce populations. What are the advantagesdisadvantages of cultural diversity.
Pdf prospects and challenges of workplace diversity in modern. Managing diversity is defined as planning and implementing organizational systems and practices to manage people so that the potential advantages of diversity are maximized while its potential disadvantages. This just shows how equally important they are to the men. Diversity in the workplace is an issue that still goes on today.
Pdf advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity in the. What are the benefits of diversity in the workplace. Diversity, including diversity of gender, religion, and ethnicity, has been shown to improve retention and reduce the costs associated with employee turnover. So why is diversity important in the workplace and how are organizations missing out if they dont get the gender balance right.
List of the disadvantages of diversity in the workplace. There have been debates over diversity management for years heated debates. Diversity management, challenges and opportunities in. And the benefits of true workplace diversity are so obviously attractive that the challenges inherent in it simply have to be addressed. Age diversity is one big advantage for good work life balance. Benefits, challenges, and the required managerial tools 2 advantages. An early study found companies with highly diverse teams in research and development laboratories produced higher numbers of commercial patents noted by parc research center. From the virgin group to disney and pricewaterhousecoopers, organizations across industries are embracing the benefits of a diverse workforce. Pdf advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity. Entrepreneurs are not necessarily motivated by profit but regard it as a standard for measuring achievement or success. Some include reverse discrimination, high costs, language and cultural barriers, a better.
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