What is diversity? Is diversity in the workplace helpful for company productivity and business growth? Let’s take a brief on workplace diversity, the importance of diversity, and the types of diversity in the workplace.
Diversity in the Workplace is a phrase that refers to the presence of individuals of numerous backgrounds, demographics, and identities within a particular workplace. It ensures the engagement of employees of different ages, ethnicities, genders, religions, and socioeconomic statuses.
Workplace diversity in the workplace aims to create an inclusive and equitable environment. It not only respects the employee behaviour, and their work expertise at the workplace but also values the unique perspective, experience, and contribution of every employee.
What is Workplace Diversity?
Workplace diversity is the phrase that mainly refers to the appearance and representation of various people from numerous backgrounds, cultures, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, and more. True workplace diversity always speaks about unity amidst diversity.
It encompasses the acceptance, respect, and appreciation of these differences among employees. gender identity racial diversity
And additionally, it brings a range of ideas, insights, and approaches that can enhance an organization’s creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Why is diversity important in the workplace?
A diverse workforce ensures various perspectives and numerous ideas that lead to innovative products.
Moreover, a properly diverse workforce leads to a better demographic customer base that reflects customer satisfaction, and a positive work environment ensuring employee engagement, and increased staff retention. So, it’s important to know about the importance of diversity in the workplace
➔ Increased profits and productivity
Diversity, the blending of cultures and backgrounds brings unique thought to the table. It leads to higher financial returns above the industry median. A diverse workplace ensure ensures more ideas and processes that reflect increased productivity.
Different studies say that an organization with the proper workplace diversity earns 2.5 times higher business flow and becomes a more productive minimum of 35 % than that of companies that don’t have diverse work atmospheres.
➔ Increased Innovation and Creativity
In the recent digital world, Innovation, and creativity is one the best key elements for better productivity and business growth. When people of different cultures along with diverse backgrounds come together, they bring a wide range of ideas, knowledge, and experience.
This diverse work culture fosters innovation and creativity, the organization gets numerous viewpoints of thinking and implementing new approaches to problem-solving.
With a diverse workplace structure, even one company can generate fresh ideas and find novel solutions to every complex challenge.
➔ Broader Talent Pool
Different types of diversity in the workplace allow organizations to choose relevant candidates for the desired profile.
When the company starts to hire candidates from numerous demographic, and different backgrounds, they can hire top talent from a variety of sources. This expands the pool of qualified candidates, leading to a more competitive and skilled workforce.
➔ Clarified Decision-Making
When an organization meets with a diverse workplace, diverse perspectives become considerable during decision-making processes. Most of the outcomes tend to be more well-rounded and comprehensive.
Diverse teams bring knowledgeable, different insights and considerations to the table, leading to a better understanding and more thoughtful analysis of the potential outcomes.
This can result in better decision-making and problem-solving, reducing the risk of groupthink and enhancing the overall effectiveness of the organization.
➔ Enhanced Employee Engagement and Productivity
The types of diversity in the workplace ensure an unbiased work environment where all employees feel valued and respected. Nowadays people expect an inclusive work atmosphere where they do not have to face discrimination.
When employees feel that their voices are heard, their contributions are appreciated, and they have equal opportunities for growth and development, they are more likely to be motivated, committed, and productive. It leads to higher employee retention rates and better company growth.
➔ Better Customer Understanding and Service
Numerous types of diversity in the workplace can better understand and cater to the needs and preferences of a diverse customer base. Different cultural perspectives and experiences within the organization allow for a deeper understanding of customer behaviors preferences, and expectations.
Better customer understanding and service can lead to more effective marketing strategies, improved customer service, and stronger connections with diverse customers.
➔ Enhanced Reputation and Market Competitiveness
Organizations that prioritize diversity and inclusion tend to build a positive reputation both internally and externally. They are seen as progressive, socially responsible, and attractive to potential employees, customers, and partners.
A diverse workforce can also help organizations enter new markets, expand their customer base, and adapt to the changing needs of a diverse and globalized world.
Also Read:
Top 9 Types of Diversity in the Workplace
Before integrating diversity in the workplace, one must understand the types of diversity suitable for the workplace atmosphere.
There are various types of diversity that one company can integrate for better productivity and company growth.
In this section, we are discussing the following different types of diversity below.
The Top 9 Types of Workplace Diversity
- Race and Ethnicity
- Age Generation
- Gender Diversity
- Linguistic Diversity
- Sexual Orientation
- Religious and spiritual diversity
- Physical Abilities and Disability
- Socioeconomic Status and Background
- Physical and Mental Health
1. Race and Ethnicity
Race and ethnicity are one of the most essential types of workplace diversity. Race defines the biological identity of the person. It includes skin colour, hair type, eye colour, etc.
On the other hand, ethnicity establishes a person’s cultural background. It ensures whether the employee is from a higher or lower caste. If some micromanagement appears due to racial or ethnic variation it leads to massive employee turnover, company loss, or even bankruptcy and shutdown.
An employee who belongs to a diverse racial and ethnic work culture brings an innovative perspective to the workplace. By embracing and valuing racial and ethnic diversity, organizations can cultivate a more inclusive, innovative, and socially responsible workplace.
It fosters a sense of belonging among employees and allows organizations to better serve diverse customer bases and communities.
➔ How to Bring Race and Ethnicity into the Workplace
If the organization feels there are some issues with race and ethnicity, you can follow the steps
- Representing race and ethnic diversity from different perspectives and experiences improves decision-making and problem-solving.
- Providing equal opportunities for all employees during recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, promotion, and career development.
- Creating an inclusive and welcoming work environment is crucial for employees of all races and ethnicities to feel valued and included.
- Implementing and enforcing policies that explicitly prohibit racial and ethnic discrimination is crucial.
- Developing cultural competence among employees is essential to effectively navigate and understand diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
2. Age and Generation
A workplace with age diversity ensures having workers of various age groups like younger employees, mid-career professionals, and older workers
Age diversity refers to the inclusion of individuals from different age groups, such as. It recognizes that people of different ages bring unique perspectives, experiences, and skill sets to the workplace.
We can take an example by categorizing by generations like Generation X, Z, and Millennials. It is the only phase where the company can hire any generation together. You can take an employee from Generation Z, born after 1995, and an employee from the 1970s as well.
Diverse workplaces based on age blend a proper age combination. Organizations can use the knowledge and experience of older workers by using the enthusiastic and active minds of young workers. Organizations may experience increased employee retention and outstanding productivity by considering age diversity.
3. Gender and Gender Diversity
Gender diversity is an essential aspect of workplace diversity. It refers to a society of various identities like female, male, and nonbinary.
Traditionally workplaces were male-dominated; Many employees, mostly women or other nonbinary people faced some challenges with gender inequality.
But with the improvisation of workplace culture, many workplaces build an unbiased, gender-diverse culture recently. They encourage employees to learn about various gender-related concepts and build respect for all genders.
Having a gender-diverse workforce brings a variety of perspectives, experiences, and skills to the table. It fosters creativity, innovation, and problem-solving by drawing from viewpoints. It also helps challenge stereotypes and biases, promoting a more inclusive and equitable work environment.
Gender diversity in workplaces build with numerous strategies like
- Building equal opportunities
- Eliminating Biased mentality
- Flexible Work environment
- Supportive Policies
- Providing Gender-related training
4. Linguistic Diversity
Language diversity ensures the team’s performance. Employees who speak multiple languages can easily understand the business perspective and impress clients or partners from different countries and backgrounds. Employees having language diversity leads to creativity and innovation. They can bring unique knowledge to solving complex problems.
In a linguistically diverse workplace, employees may come from various linguistic backgrounds, and they may use different languages or dialects to communicate with each other. This diversity can bring several benefits to an organization:
- Improved Communication
- Cultural Blending
- Global Reach
- Innovation and variation
- Engagement and productivity
Integrating Language diversity in the workplace is a bit challenging as well. One challenge is communication and language barriers within the team.
Suppose a Maharashtrian company hires a South Indian employee who has language expertise in English and his regional language. It could be a bit challenging to cope with the Maharashtrian regional language.
Things to remember proper training and better communication can streamline the entire workplace diversity process.
5. Sexual Orientation
A diverse workplace with proper sexual orientation can be a great technique to innovate the workplace culture. It leads to better productivity and business growth.
If an organization welcomes LGBTQ+ community people, they are at least one step ahead toward innovation and a properly diverse work culture. Because they never know the excellence and uniqueness of the community candidates, thus can increases job satisfaction and employee engagement and retention.
But it is essential that the employees must feel safe and secure at the workplace. And they can express their sexuality without any hesitation or facing any discrimination or workplace harassment.
6. Religious Diversity
A workplace is where people of different religions come together, sit together, and share their feelings and habits. This type of practice reflects innovations and supportive work culture.
To maintain religious diversity within a company, it is important to foster an inclusive and respectful work environment where employees of different religious backgrounds feel valued and supported.
➔ Here are some essential tips to maintain religious equality in your workplace
- Developing a strong organizational culture including religious diversity that provides training on how to treat employees with dignity and foster an inclusive environment.
- Regularly assessing company policies, and benefits to ensure they are inclusive and supportive of religious diversity.
- Offering diversity and inclusion training programs that specifically address religious diversity and educate employees about different religious practices, customs, and beliefs.
7. Physical Abilities and Disability
A workplace where a physically disabled employee can able to join easily, upgrade his performance and help to increase company growth is another example of good workplace diversity.
Embracing physical abilities and disability in a workplace environment can be taken as a good example of workplace diversity. Companies not only create an inclusive and equitable work environment but also engage talent with disabilities. It leads to improved business outcomes and social impact.
Before Disability diversity inclusion company should be aware of the following things,
- Creating a friendly environment where disabled people should feel welcomed, comfortable, valued, and appreciated.
- Provide necessary accommodations for disabled employees so that they can do their job effectively.
- Providing awareness and effective training about disability inclusion, etiquette, and more. Proper training is crucial for creating an inclusive environment.
- Upgrading and spreading awareness on policies, practices, and procedures of disabled employees to ensure they are inclusive and support disability diversity.
8. Socioeconomic Status and Background
The performance of office workers should be verified according to their talent and performance not for their socio-economic status or background.
Socioeconomic status ensures the employees of low, medium, and high classes in society. People with poor health and some chronic health conditions and disabilities are called SES.
Often in various workplaces employees harass other SES employees who are of lower socioeconomic status and usually have less access to financial, educational, social, and health resources than those with a higher socioeconomic status.
9. Physical and Mental Health
Physical and mental health diversity is counted as one of the most essential types of diversity in the workplace. Often workplace harassment, micromanagement, bad managers, back-to-back meetings, target achieving, and busy schedules may affect employees’ physical and mental health. They become exhausted, stressed, and frustrated, thereby affecting their performance which leads to decreasing productivity, employee massive turnover, company loss, etc.
Often companies arrange some full-body checkup drives to ensure the employees are physically fit or weak. Besides physical well-being, mental well-being is important as well. Many companies try to maintain a balance between physical and mental well-being as well.
Also Read:
Tips For HR maintaining diversity at the workplace.
Here, we are discussing some quick tips for managing diversity in the workplace.
➔ Implement the merit-based diversity
Often employees don’t like the religious-based diversity at the workplace. Instead of excellence and expertise, they think, maybe employees of any particular religion get priority there. But merit-based diversity often brings good or talented employees to the organization. Choosing the right employees lead to employee retention and company productivity. It is often best to focus on a candidate’s skills and avoid biases and stereotypes.
➔ Provide diversity training
If there are numerous employees based on different diversity at the workplace. The organization should take care of it and maintain a balanced atmosphere at the workplace. They should provide proper training on how a diverse workplace can help in company productivity.
➔ Non-biased hiring
Biased hiring is detrimental to the company’s growth and employee engagement. If the organization does biased hiring they may miss the chance to hire talented employees for them.
So the employer can try a blind hiring method, which helps the HRs to choose the candidates based on their skills rather not their gender, age, race, social status, culture, etc.
➔ Encourage a culture of inclusion
Before maintaining a diverse workplace, management should encourage the employers to maintain inclusion efforts.
Let’s have an example, if you plan to hire female employees only in a particular quarter make sure they don’t be felt dominated and get equal opportunities every time. And one more thing is needed to remember, always maintain a balanced work culture in case of gender, culture, age, and social status.
➔ Be gentle with every employee
With a diverse workplace, you can contribute to a more inclusive and supportive work environment where every employee feels valued and respected. Every employee knows his responsibility at the workplace. and they do their task every day.
The organization should trust them and do smooth and professional communication or make a gentle relationship with them. It must lead to great success in company growth and productivity.
End Note
To manage workplace diversity, companies should implement a comprehensive strategy that encompasses recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse talent.
They should prioritize creating an inclusive culture through training, policies, and practices that celebrate diversity, address bias and discrimination, and provide equal opportunities for all employees. Companies must also promote diverse leadership and decision-making at all levels and establish mechanisms for feedback and accountability.
Embracing diversity goes beyond simply hiring individuals from different backgrounds; it involves creating an inclusive and equitable environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.
