Adequately planning for workplace diversity problems helps
companies overcome them quickly.
Workplace diversity exists when
companies hire employees from various backgrounds and experiences. Many
companies see workplace diversity as an investment toward building a better
business. Although workplace diversity provides many benefits, it also poses
many challenges to employees and managers. To reap the benefits of workplace
diversity, employees and managers must understand the challenges and know how
to effectively deal with them.
Communication
Communication barriers lead to
problems in a company attempting to create a diverse workplace. When a U.S.
company hires employees of other cultures whose first language is not English,
employees and managers may experience difficulties communicating with one
another. This can lead to misunderstandings and a decrease in productivity. For
example, if a manager gives instructions about completing a certain task to an
employee who fails to fully comprehend the instructions, the employee may make
mistakes if he tries to complete the task without receiving clarity. Sometimes
it helps for companies to hire bilingual employees who can mediate and reduce
language and communication barriers.
Opposition
to Change
Although workplace diversity
benefits an organization as a whole, some employees and managers may not react
positively to changes made. Employees who oppose workforce diversity usually
reject new ideas and make work environments more difficult. If the company
doesn't handle opposition properly, workplace diversity initiatives may not
provide the intended benefits to the company. To deal with opposition,
companies should explain the reasons for diversity and what benefits changes in
diversity bring to management and employees. Alleviating fears some people
possess about workplace diversity may reduce much of the opposition.
Implementation
Although on paper workplace
diversity may seem like a good idea, many companies experience challenges when
attempting to implement changes. Employers must develop strategies for
implementation, analyze results and make necessary changes if results do not
meet the established goals. The implementation process may present challenges
to everyone involved, and frustrations may arise because implementation is not
as smooth as expected. To help with implementation, employers may decide to
hire experienced professionals who specialize in workplace diversity.
Experienced professionals understand the challenges and know how to handle
them.
Managing
Diversity
Once workplace diversity is
implemented, companies must effectively manage the changes in policies. This
presents a challenge for many organizations. Challenges in managing workplace
diversity can stem from several reasons, such as taking the wrong approach to
solving diversity issues. For example, a company may adopt affirmative action
policies in an attempt to solve diversity problems. Affirmative action is about
giving opportunity to previously disadvantaged workers. Hiring based solely on
race may not solve diversity issues. According to Lawrence Herzog of HCareers,
managers face challenges when new employees from diverse backgrounds interact
with long-standing employees. Many companies offer training programs to
managers to help them effectively manage their newly diverse departments.