Workplace Diversity and Cultural Awareness

Transcription

1 Workplace Diversity and Cultural Awareness

2 Overview! As the economy becomes increasingly global, the workplace grows ever more diverse. Diversity is defined as the differences we recognize in each other such as gender, culture, race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, and physical and mental abilities. It also includes other things such as economic status, point of view, educational back ground, employment history and political beliefs.! During the next decade, 85% of new workers in the U.S. will be female, Asian, African-American or Hispanic; only 15% will be white males, once considered the "typical" employee. Not only will many of these new workers speak different languages, they will have different perspectives on families, communities and work. 2

3 Overview! Behind workplace diversity is the idea that every human being is of equal worth, entitled to the same privileges and opportunities, without regard to race, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, background, education or any other characteristic. This fundamental belief has led to changes in the recruitment, training and retention of employees.! This training course is intended to help you understand and appreciate the importance of a diverse workforce and encourage you to give other employees the respect and dignity they deserve. This outlook will help all employees be more productive and creative, and do their jobs better. 3

4 Historical Background The U.S. workforce has changed from one that was almost en:rely segregated to one that is now very diverse. Women and men now commonly work at the same level with people of different races, religions, cultures, lifestyles and perspec:ves. This change reflects the changes in our laws and society at large, such as: The Civil Rights movement and affirma:ve ac:on; Changes in immigra:on law; Movements such as Women's Libera:on, Gray Panthers, Gay Pride and Disability Rights; and The so- called Global Village. Rather than resist these changes, it is important to recognizes the benefits of a diverse workforce in serving a mul:- cultural customer base in today's global economy. 4

5 Civil Rights Movement & Affirma:ve Ac:on During World War II, African Americans served in a military segregated by race. People began to speak out against this injus:ce, and the U.S. military was desegregated shortly aver the war. Over the following two decades, the U.S. Supreme Court ended legal segrega:on in public schools, and Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which barred discrimina:on in the civilian workforce on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or na:onal origin. The Civil Rights movement led to affirma9ve ac9on, which is the prac:ce of maintaining a workforce that includes equitable representa:on of defined groups that have been historically discriminated against in employment. 5

6 Immigra:on Law Changes In the 1920s, Congress resisted racial, religious and cultural diversity by restric:ng immigra:on mostly to people from Britain, Ireland and Northern Europe. In 1965, this law was repealed to allow people from all parts of the world to immigrate to the U.S. and become ci:zens.

7 Women's Libera:on, Gray Panthers, Gay Pride, NAAFA and Disability Accommoda:on As protesters mobilized in great numbers against the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, several movements emerged. Women and the elderly demanded equal treatment, gays and lesbians came out of the closet, the obese founded the Na:onal Associa:on to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) and the disabled called for accommoda:on. These movements led to female CEOs, openly gay co- workers, wheelchair accessibility and the end of forced- re:rement schemes. As a result, our workforce is more diverse now than ever before. 7

8 The Global Village The inven:on of jet airplanes, combined with the revolu:onary changes in telecommunica:ons, has made the world a much "smaller" place. Major ci:es around the world are filled with people from many different countries. As a result, people of different cultures, religions and walks of life are interac:ng more than ever before. 8

9 When did the movements begin and laws take shape that led to workplace diversity in the U.S.? to to to to the present day.

10 1. We disagree. It was later than this. 2. We agree. Some:mes known as the "Civil Rights Era," the period between World War II and 1975 (the 1960s, in par:cular) witnessed the peak or birth of various social movements and the passage of most of the federal an:- discrimina:on laws we have today. 3. We disagree. It was earlier than this. ANSWER 4. We disagree. It was earlier than this. 10

11 Diversity in Business Promo:ng diversity is a cri:cal part of a commitment to providing superior customer service. Here's why: Studies show results. A number of studies have confirmed that diversity aware organiza:ons are both great places to work and provide excellent goods and services to their customers. Customer sa9sfac9on is enhanced. Customers who receive a posi:ve response to their own cultural or linguis:c background will be encouraged to do more business with us. Posi9ve a>tudes are win- win. Customers are more diverse than ever, and you don't want to lose opportuni:es due to nega:ve aktudes by employees in interac:ng with a diverse public. You need to be able to meet, greet, sell to, hire and work alongside diverse individuals. Learning to interact effec:vely with those who are different from you is not only personally rewarding, it's good for business! 11

12 Race, Culture and Language Racial, cultural and linguis:c prejudices can inflict deeply hurnul insults. When you disparage someone in any of these ways, you're insul:ng not only the individual but also the person's family, friends, ancestors and heritage. This can also feel very threatening especially if the targeted individual is of a small minority in the workplace. It's okay and oven even beneficial to acknowledge stereotypes. Awareness of one's stereotypes makes them easier to deal with and helps avoid mistakes that can lead to offensive comments or ac:ons. If your co- workers are willing to engage in a dialogue about these things, converse in a sensi:ve, respecnul and sincere way that furthers your understanding of other backgrounds. 12

13 Race, Culture and Language It is beneficial to broaden your knowledge of different groups so you do not rely on biases or stereotypes that exist due to a lack of informa:on, nor do you want to offend someone because you were not aware of mul:cultural or mul:genera:onal behaviors or ideas. You can learn more about the diverse groups that exist by: Interac:ng with people from other groups Reading and watching informa:onal programs about various cultures Observing without judging Sharing knowledge and experience As noted earlier, employing people with differing races, cultural backgrounds and language abili:es is invaluable in serving an increasingly diverse public. It makes us beper able to understand and cater to the needs of the members and co- workers who represent people from mul:ple races, backgrounds and cultures. This diversity is vital not only for business but also in employee reten:on and recruitment. 13

14 Interes:ng Sta:s:cs 20 percent of the people living in the U.S. speak a language other than English in their home. The Hispanic popula:on grew by 43 percent in the U.S. between 2000 and One out of two adult pa:ents has a hard :me understanding basic health informa:on due to a lower level of English proficiency. 14

15 Advantages of Diversity Here are some advantages of diversity and cultural awareness in the business environment: Seeing an issue from mul:ple points of view can help you make beper decisions. Crea:vity increases when people with different backgrounds come together to solve problems or develop new business ini:a:ves. 15

16 Gender Women now comprise the majority of professional workers in several affluent na:ons, including the U.S. They hold 60% of American and European university degrees. And women are at the head of large companies such as PepsiCo, DuPont and Xerox. This stands in stark contrast to a century ago, when women in these same socie:es rarely worked alongside men. Even when they did they were seldom seen as equals, and they almost never had authority over men. If a woman objected to sexual harassment, she oven risked losing her job. Despite this progress, women on average are paid less than men, and the boardrooms of most major companies are far from having gender parity. Sexual harassment persists, and in many parts of the world, women s:ll do not have the same legal rights as men.

17 Diversity & Dealing with Conflict Given the diverse workforce, it should be expected that you will need to be able to deal with many differing points of view. From :me to :me, that will lead to conflict. Conflict in the workplace is inevitable, but it does not have to be destruc:ve and can be invigora:ng, leading to great ideas and solu:ons. Here are some approaches to try when faced with conflict: When someone has a different opinion about something, ask ques:ons to ensure understanding and summarize what you hear. This helps build a rapport and show s empathy for the other person s point of view. See common ground. Try to find something that you can both agree on. It could be as simple as agreeing that you want to work together. Adopt a we mindset. We is collabora:ve and gets everyone involved in the solu:on. Offer a compromise. If you are working with a reasonable person, your willingness to bend a bit may move you closer to agreement.

18 Communica:on and Respect Communica:on and respect are keys to crea:ng an inclusive atmosphere in a diverse workplace and the two go hand in hand. Members of a diverse workforce can get along beper with each other if they observe some basic rules of communica:on: Avoid offensive language, such as racial or gender epithets. Before using a ques:onable term or phrase, ask yourself How would I feel if someone said this to me? Avoid offensive jokes that make fun of others. This can be construed as harassment. Make it clear that you won t tolerate offensive speech or behavior from others. Treat people as individuals with unique beliefs, opinions and styles. Be aware of how your own cultural assump:ons may cause you to misunderstand another person. Address coworkers in a way that shows you respect them and value their contribu:ons. Don t assume that others will have similar values, standards, or backgrounds as you. 18

19 Genera:onal Differences The workplace is full of people of all age groups. From our the aging baby boomer popula:on, many of whom are working much longer than in the past, to Genera:on X, Millennials, Genera:on Y, etc. there is a vast amount of knowledge, ideas and experience to pull from. Assump:ons about age are not only unfair, but they lead to bad business decisions. By overlooking an older worker simply because of age, you deprive the organiza:on of talent, wisdom and experience. Likewise, younger workers can have much to offer despite having less experience. An individual's abili:es depend on a variety of factors that have nothing to do with age. Having a mul:- genera:onal workforce can be a significant benefit to organiza:ons. 19

20 In Conclusion Both the workforce and the marketplace continue to reflect more diversity. Communities around the world are increasingly cosmopolitan, and in order to serve and recruit effectively, it is important to learn to interact with people from a broad array of backgrounds. 20

21 In Conclusion You should strive to maintain a workforce that is as diverse as the communities you serve. When seeking new employees, recruiting employees from different cultures and perspectives is part of a sensible business strategy. Retaining those employees requires using sensitive communication practices, being respectful to each other, and understanding differing points of view. 21

22 In Conclusion The good news is that being sensitive, respectful and understanding is often a simple matter of having empathy for others in the workplace and for those we serve. In other words, putting into practice the Golden Rule to treat others as you would like to be treated avoids discrimination, harassment and fosters a harmonious and productive workplace. Everyone has the responsibility for creating a workplace that values and respects diversity. 22

23 Quiz Ques9on #1 Xavier assigned Eduardo to a different team from Antonio, because Pedro is from Puerto Rico and Antonio is from Italy. Xavier was concerned that they would not get along due to the difference in their backgrounds. Was this the right thing to do? 1. No. 2. Maybe, if Xavier felt strongly that this was best. 3. Yes, since it was not a hiring or termination decision. 23

24 Quiz Ques9on #1 - Answer 1. We agree. Xavier made unreasonable assumptions based on national origin and used those assumptions as the basis for an employment decision. The fact that they have different backgrounds may have made for a better work environment if both men were willing to show respect for the other. 2. We disagree. This is not a relevant consideration. 3. We disagree. Discrimination laws apply to all employment decisions not just hiring and firing. Encouraging diversity in the workplace can lead to improved business results if employees use their diverse backgrounds as a way to make better decisions. 24

25 Quiz Ques9on #2 Diversity is just about race and cultural differences? 1. True 2. False 25

26 Quiz Ques9on #2 - Answer 1. We disagree. 2. We agree. Diversity includes not only race and cultural differences, but also, age, religion, physical and mental abilities as well as economic status, educational background and political beliefs. 26

27 Quiz Ques9on #3 It is the responsibility of the Human Resources department to oversee diversity in the workplace. 1. True 2. False

28 Quiz Ques9on #3 - Answer 1. We disagree. 2. We agree. Everyone has responsibility to create a workplace that values and respects diversity, not just Human Resources. 28

29 Quiz Ques9on #4 Providing the best possible service to our members requires being aware that they all have varied backgrounds and beliefs. 1. True 2. False 29

30 Quiz Ques9on #4 - Answer 1. We agree. It is important to be aware that our members come from diverse backgrounds and have varied experiences that impact our interactions with them. 2. We disagree.

31 Quiz Ques9on #5 Diversity can have a positive impact on business results because it: 1. Promotes creative solutions 2. Promotes collaboration 3. Promotes better decision making 4. All of the above 31

32 Quiz Ques9on #5 - Answer 1. We disagree. There is a better answer. 2. We disagree. There is a better answer. 3. We disagree. There is a better answer. 4. We agree. All of these answers are positive results of diversity in the workplace. 32

33 Quiz Ques9on #6 Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of diversity training: 1. To avoid legal liability. 2. To help remedy the effects of historic discrimination. 3. To maintain a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. 33

34 Quiz Ques9on #6 - Answer 1. We disagree. Avoiding legal liability is only part of the reason for diversity training. 2. We disagree. This is the reason for affirmative-action programs, but diversity training has a different purpose. 3. We agree. Diversity training is meant to foster the most productive and effective workforce to serve our customers. This means ensuring that all employees (a) are treated with dignity and respect by supervisors and co-workers alike, and (b) do not have to experience unlawful discrimination or harassment.

35 Quiz Ques9on #7 Emmanuel and Lucy often work on projects together. Lucy dreads working with Emmanuel because he is from a different country and has very different ideas. She feels that the decision making process takes longer than it should because she has to listen to him tell how it would be in his country. Emmanuel, on the other hand, enjoys hearing Lucy s perspective and believes that having different ideas leads to a better result. Who has the best attitude toward the conflict that they experience when working together? 1. Lucy 2. Emmanuel 35

36 Quiz Ques9on #7 - Answer 1. We disagree. Lucy does not seem interested in the best solution but a quick solution. 2. We agree. Emmanuel seems to value the ideas and background that Lucy brings to the project and believes that having a different point of view will make the decision making process better. 36

37 Quiz Ques9on #8 Which of the following benefits describes how respect for diversity enhances the workplace and promotes better business relations? 1. It fosters a less contentious, more cooperative working environment. 2. We're in a better position to serve a multiplicity of demographic groups. 3. It avoids discrimination and harassment claims and lawsuits. 4. It strengthens our reputation. 5. All of the above. 37

38 Quiz Ques9on #8 - Answer 1. We disagree. 2. We disagree. 3. We disagree. 4. We disagree. 5. We agree. These are among the numerous benefits of respecting diversity. This is why we consider the principles in this course to be integral to our success as a business. 38