DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE. Diane Letendre MSU Office of HR/Affirmative Action

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1 DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE Diane Letendre MSU Office of HR/Affirmative Action

2 WHAT IS DIVERSITY? Diversity is not just about discrimination issues Diversity includes all the ways we are similar and different Building an inclusive culture How are you different in a diverse situation? What is a dustpan?

3 SHRM S DEFINITION OF DIVERSITY the collective mixture of differences and similarities that includes for example, individual and organizational characteristics, values, beliefs, experiences, backgrounds, preferences, and behaviors. Visible Diversity Traits Invisible Diversity Traits Skin Physical color Traits Gender Behaviors Age Body Size/Type Physical Abilities Religion Socio-economic Status Sexual Orientation Military Experience Level in Organization Culture Ethnicity Geographic Location Beliefs Personality Values Thinking Styles Marital Status Functional Specialty Habits Parental Status Work Background Communication Style Native born/non native Education

4 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION VERSUS DIVERSITY Affirmative Action is legally driven promotes equality in opportunities in the work environment is remedial, correcting past wrongs Diversity contributes to a richness of an organization by a variety of views, approaches and actions to use in strategic planning, problem solving and decision making.

5 DIVERSITY IS EVOLVING Embracing the values of respect, equality and opportunity for all represent the cornerstone of workplace diversity Managing diversity is forward thinking for companies who want to empower employees, increase profits and sustain their competitive advantage

6 DISPELLING MYTHS ABOUT DIVERSITY Diversity is a problem to fix Diversity is Human Resources responsibility Diversity is only about race and gender Diversity is a passing trend

7 WHAT ARE WE MISSING? Feature Films are the Result of Years of Scientific Study Combined with the Experience of Years

8 WHAT ARE WE MISSING? Feature Films are the Result of Years of Scientific Study Combined with the Experience of Years

9 WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU SEEN DIVERSITY INCREASING IN YOUR WORKPLACE? Increase in ethnic diversity Multi-generational workforce Generation Y 41.4% minority* Disabilities the changes in the ADA have significantly impacted the landscape of workplace * National Journal,

10 ADVANTAGES OF A DIVERSE WORKPLACE Increase and expansion of innovative ideas Get the best from every employee Fresh perspectives new faces at the table Diverse groups develop new ways of working together Different and Dynamic Talent Pools Organizations will thrive where the brightest, most creative and talented people want to work

11 THE SILENT INTERVIEW Partner with someone you do not know well Do not talk! Take 3 minutes to jot down your answers to the questions on the sheet

12 THE INTERVIEW HOW DID YOU FEEL? When we do this, we form stereotypes based upon incomplete information Stereotyping puts a person in a mental file based on what we believed due to what we assume. It is not based on information derived from knowledge about or personal experience with the person Stereotyping can become an automatic response!

13 SOME ISSUES THAT ARISE Conflicting values not unlike the generational differences Fear of the unknown or unfamiliar Resistance acceptance of the new demographics, the benefits of change, etc Miscommunication - and most commonly known - misinterpretation

14 THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS Claims of discrimination race, gender, national origin, etc. Claims of Discrimination: Discrimination is labor intensive (internally) Discrimination affects your reputation Discrimination is costly Discrimination is wrong

15 PROMOTING DIVERSITY IN YOUR WORKPLACE Top Down support from all levels of leadership Recognize the challenges that exist resistance to change and the lack of understanding what diversity really means It is about changing behaviors, not attitudes

16 WHAT WILL YOU DO PUBLICLY TO BRING CHANGE? Talk to your staff department Add diversity to your mission statement Advisory Councils Task Forces Add diversity statement to your job announcements Montana State University is committed to continually supporting, promoting and building an inclusive and culturally diverse campus environment and strongly encourages applications from female and minority candidates.

17 SHRM S DEFINITION OF DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT Diversity Management is: the comprehensive organizational and managerial process for leveraging diversity and achieving inclusion that maximizes the potential of all employees

18 SHRM SURVEY STATE OF DIVERSITY (2007) Most successful outcomes that resulted from diversity management in organizations: Creating a work environment or culture that allows everyone to contribute all that they can to the organization Achieving appropriate representation of racial and ethnic groups Enhancing the ability of people from different backgrounds to work effectively together

19 FOR MORE INFORMATION State of Diversity Management Report: A Call to Action SHRM cles/documents/the%20state%20of%20diversity %20Managment%20surevey%20report.pdf

20 Thank you! Questions?

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