diversity in organization
Diversity level
1. Everybody brings differences to an organization where they work. These differences can create energy and excitement in the workplace, but they can also cause conflict. So it is important that we have an understanding of how diversity works in organizations.
2. When we look at the workplace we can recognize two levels of diversity. Surface-level diversity represents the characteristics that are easily observed such as race, gender, age etc. Deep-level diversity represents the aspects that are more difficult to see at first glance such as values, personality, and work preferences.
3. Organizations need to engage in Diversity Management to eliminate unfair discrimination. By understanding what diversity is and helping employees with training and development opportunities, the negative impact of discrimination can be minimized.
Biographical Characteristics
1. Biographical characteristics represent many of the surface-level aspects of diversity. These are characteristics that are very easy to identify.
2. Biographical characteristics typically include age, gender, and race. It can also include tenure, religion, family and relationship orientation, and gender identity.
Age is an increasingly relevant characteristic as the workforce is aging. Older workers bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, but the perception is that productivity often declines with age. Whether this is true or not, it is a perception people act upon and will impact the workplace.
3. In studying gender in the workplace, it has been found that there are very few differences between men and women that impact job performance. However, women, especially those with pre-school age children, do prefer flexible work schedules and will seek an employer who offers options in their schedules.
4. Race and Ethnicity offers little explanation for differentials in workplace outcomes. It has been shown, however, that people in the workplace do identify
1. Everybody brings differences to an organization where they work. These differences can create energy and excitement in the workplace, but they can also cause conflict. So it is important that we have an understanding of how diversity works in organizations.
2. When we look at the workplace we can recognize two levels of diversity. Surface-level diversity represents the characteristics that are easily observed such as race, gender, age etc. Deep-level diversity represents the aspects that are more difficult to see at first glance such as values, personality, and work preferences.
3. Organizations need to engage in Diversity Management to eliminate unfair discrimination. By understanding what diversity is and helping employees with training and development opportunities, the negative impact of discrimination can be minimized.
Biographical Characteristics
1. Biographical characteristics represent many of the surface-level aspects of diversity. These are characteristics that are very easy to identify.
2. Biographical characteristics typically include age, gender, and race. It can also include tenure, religion, family and relationship orientation, and gender identity.
Age is an increasingly relevant characteristic as the workforce is aging. Older workers bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience, but the perception is that productivity often declines with age. Whether this is true or not, it is a perception people act upon and will impact the workplace.
3. In studying gender in the workplace, it has been found that there are very few differences between men and women that impact job performance. However, women, especially those with pre-school age children, do prefer flexible work schedules and will seek an employer who offers options in their schedules.
4. Race and Ethnicity offers little explanation for differentials in workplace outcomes. It has been shown, however, that people in the workplace do identify