Diversity Management

Diversity Management

1. Definition

   • Diversity
     • Ways in which people are similar or different from each other.
     • Characteristics that varies within a particular work unit
   • Diversity Management
     • Process of managing employees's difference and similarities
     • Levels of Diversity Management
       • Prejudice
       • Discrimination
       • Stereotypes

2. Diversity Barriers

   • Race
     • Physical characteristics such as skin
     • Solutions
       • Increasing awareness training
       • Managers to confront racial remarks or jokes
   • Gender
     • Male or female
     • Solutions
       • Equal promotion opportunities
       • Revamp leave polices to include men
       • Managers to respect both genders
       • Be flexible with benefit needs
   • Sexual orientation
     • Heterosexual, Homosexual or bisexual
     • Solutions
       • Respect for all forms of diversity
       • Include sexual orientation issues in both diversity awareness programs and new-employee orientation programs
       • Managers to confront prejudice remarks, jokes and behaviours
       • Promote and reinforce the value of respecting people's beliefs
   • Socioeconomic status
     • Occupation,Education, Work experience, Income
     • Solutions
       • Mentorship
   • Age
     • Solutions
       • Commit to and reinforce the value of experience
       • Provide equal opportunities
       • Redesign jobs and work schedules
   • Differently-abled
     • includes disabled, people with illness or addition
     • Solutions
       • Provide training and assistance
       • Educate managers on safety issues and responsibilities
       • Redesign job duties or physical environment
   • Cultural Diversity
     • Cultural differences
     • Solutions
       • Increasing awareness training
       • Establishing rewards that are valued by different groups
       • Be flexible about holidays, time off and leaves
       • Ask employees for suggestions
       • Reward managers for successfully integrating departments
   • Language
     • Solutions
       • Design jobs that does not require English
       • Translate relevant documents into the employee's primary language
       • Provide language classes or e-training programs
       • Use both showing and telling methods when giving training on skills or jobs
       • Use visual graphics communication
   • Marital Status
     • Single or married
     • Solutions
       • Accomodation to family needs
       • Don't ask about marital status in interviews
       • Be flexible with benefit needs
   • Religious Beliefs
     • Have different values and beliefs
     • Solutions
       • Formulate policies
       • Be consistent in allowing time or days off for religious activities