Diversity in the workforce is the inclusion of different types of people perceived to be different from
Question:
Diversity in the workforce is the inclusion of different types of people perceived to be different from you in an organization. This can include but is not limited to, race, gender, religious beliefs, work experience, etc. (Lumen, n.d.). A diverse organization means that talent availability, innovation, and increase in globalization increase. Increased talent and diverse perspectives allow the organization to reach a new and creative way of thinking, enabling them to develop new ideas. A diverse workforce allows the organization to improve its critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving ability (Lumen, n.d.).
Some ideas and strategies for attracting and retaining diversity in the workforce would be to offer professional development and telework. Professional development helps with retention by increasing productivity and morale within the organization, but it also opens opportunities for career progression. Telework is an excellent opportunity for organizations to recruit skilled workers from outside the area. Telework also reduces the number of absentee days and increases employee satisfaction and productivity while allowing for a better work-life balance. This was a huge benefit during the pandemic. Many families struggled to find daycares for their children, and the ability to telework allowed many families to customize their work schedules while staying employed. However, not all employees are good candidates for telework. To prevent any potential issues from arising, organizations need to have detailed expectations outlined and hold employees accountable to the terms and conditions. Though a diverse work environment is crucial to an organization, I also see that some potential issues could arise from focusing solely on diversity during hiring. Having too many opinions, possible discrimination, and cultural misunderstandings could cause a hostile work environment. Some of these issues could be prevented or mitigated with proper annual training.