Diversity Workforce in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 1 Instructions: Watch the following streaming video on Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams read the themes and plot statement and answer the questions below. Type your answers in a separate APA style document and submit the document in Blackboard. Video: http://www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/static_resources/1133953107/27677/ch03_video_wra pper.html# Themes: Diversity and inclusion are the main themes. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams' (MG + BW's) deep commitment to inclusive management practices is detailed. Discrimination around sexual orientation and LBGT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) employees is discussed. Plot: This high-end furniture manufacturer and retailer is a diversity trendsetter. Mitchell Gold (Chairman and co-founder) and Bob Williams (President of Design and co-founder) started their business together, as an openly-gay couple, in 1989. For more than six consecutive years, the North Carolina company has scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equity Index (CEI) which rates businesses' efforts to establish and maintain inclusive workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees. The video describes the importance of a diverse workforce and including all types of differences in a definition of diversity. Questions 1. Is sexual orientation discrimination prohibited under any of the federal laws in the United States? 2. How does a diverse workforce better serve MG + BW's customers? 3. What are the two main forms of backlash against diversity training? 4. Do you think these are issues that Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams' managers need to be concerned about? Why or why not? 5. Do you think all companies should have formal policies on diversity? Why or why not? 6. What is the difference between a diversity policy and the requirements set forth by the EEOC? 7. The Chairman of MG + BW states that he doesn't believe that LBGT is the final frontier in diversity. He thinks immigrants in American will be the next frontier? What do you think will be the next frontier of diversity in American in the next five to ten years? Why? Diversity Workforce in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 2 Diversity Workforce in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is an internationally-acclaimed home furnishings company offering eco-friendly, American-made upholstery as well as table & storage, lighting, rugs, bed linens, artwork, and accessoriesall designed to help people live comfortably with style.( http://www.mgbwhome.com/AboutUs.aspx) Sexual Orientation Discrimination Laws in the United States According to Mathis, Jackson, Valentine, & Meglich (2017), there is no federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. However, 18 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to protect applicants and employees form such discrimination. p.98. Diverse Workforce Customers of MG+BW can be any race, gender, age, color, and so on. Therefore, a diverse workforce in the company shows that people are treated equal and welcomed as customer or employee. Backlash against Diversity Training One backlash is that women and members of racial minorities thinks that the diversity training is useless. And sometimes, the diversity training actually bring this issue up and cause more trouble and conflicts mainly between white male and the others(including white male with disability). The other backlash is that those individuals who are in the majority (primarily white males) claim that they've been assigned blames for societal problems. And in reality, the diversity programs are benefiting only women and racial minorities, and taking away opportunities form white men. Diversity Workforce in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 3 MG+BW Managers Concern The managers in MG+BW need not to worry about complains from women and racial minorities. The chairman himself is a gay and Jewish who sometimes are being discriminated. The experience he experienced in other furniture company makes him realize the importance of having an organizational culture that provide the comfortable environment for people who have different colors, races, ages, genders, and other protected characters. Therefore, the managers in the company don't have to worry about these kind of issues because people work in the company will not discriminate anyone who have the same characteristics of themselves. Complains from individuals in the majority may be concerned. Because when people are equal, there will be more competition for the job opportunities. Even though the company treated everyone equally, some people in the majority may also blame them for taking their opportunities. Also some people may feel strange if most of their colleague are black, women, pagan, gay, and so on. Formal Policies on Diversity in Companies All companies should have formal policies on diversity. There are regulations, laws exist for most of the discriminations. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the two main enforcement bodies for EEO have enforces related laws for companies to follow. In order to better communicating and implementing these laws, companies should prepare formal policies on such issues. Diversity Policy and The EEOC Requirements Requirements set forth by the EEOC like affirmative action plans (AAPs) set an employer's standard for the treatment to women, minorities, disabled individuals and veterans in work Diversity Workforce in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 4 situations. It is more like moral and social obligations to eliminate the discrimination. The diversity policies on the other hand, are goals and principles set by the companies to ensure there are no discriminations against minorities by embracing cultural differences within the workplace. Next Frontier of Diversity in American Considering the increasing number of foreign students in U.S.A. because of the new policies, and their demand for jobs, the next frontier of diversity in America for next five to ten years is immigrants. Firstly, the conflict will be one the job opportunities. Most of people who can stay in America are people will abilities or wealth. Lots of wealthy and talented people are coming to America and they are qualified and have the ability to take better job opportunities. Thus, many good jobs will be taken from the Native Americans. Secondly, the culture conflict. America's original immigrant from other countries have already mixed up with other cultures. Many customs were mixed and changed from the original culture, and may now be called American culture. However, many new comers are going to bring the new culture to this land. Discrimination may happen again just like what has happened in the history. Fortunately, laws, regulations, and consciousness of people are friendlier to foreigners nowadays. Diversity Workforce in Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 5 References Cengage South-Western. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams: Equal Employment Opportunity. Podcast retrieved from http://www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/static_resources/1133953107/27677/ch03_vid eo_wrapper.html Mathis, R. L., Jackson, J. H., Valentine, S. R., & Meglich, P. (2017). Human Resource Management. Boston, MA 02210: Cengage Learning. Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. About Us. Retrieved from http://www.mgbwhome.com/AboutUs.aspx