Understanding Workplace Diversity

1
Understanding Workplace Diversity

• Presented by
• Jhané Perkins

2
What Is Diversity?
Expanding Factors
Initial Factors

• Sexual orientation
• Socioeconomic and education levels
• Management and union
• Functional level and classification
• Proximity to headquarters

• Race
• ethnicity
• age
• gender

3
Face of the Diverse Workforce
Women account for 62 of all ethnic groups
Source Workforce 2020, Hudson Institute
4
Diversity Effects on Corporations
Ethnic Directors on Corporate Boards
1998 1999

• African American 37 39
• Latino 12 12
• Asian 6 9
• Total 55 60

Source Korn/Ferry International
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Diversity Effects on Corporations

• At the top eight companies, where diversity is a
  fact of life, productivity growth in the past
  four years exceeded that of the economy as a
  whole by 18.

Source Urban League Diversity Study
6
Corporations Views of Diversity
7
Objections to Diversity Policies

• Misunderstanding of why the company has a
  diversity policy
• Perception of Lowered employee standards
• Lack of understanding how diversity plays a role
  in the organizations goals

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Responses to Objections

• 1) Inquire.
• 2) Show empathy
• 3) Educate
• 4) Express your feelings
• 5) State your needs or expectations
• 6) Avoid polarization
• 7) Use the silence of no response or delaying
  your response.
• 8) Avoid arguing and defending 

9
Taking the Diversity Policy Further

• Diversity training for managers
• Affinity groups - in house organizations for
  women and other groups
• Employment tracking

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Internet Resources

• 1) The Society of Human Resource Management's
  website www.shrm.org
• 2) BusinessTrainingMedia.com
• 3)Diversitycentral.com