Benefits of diversity in the workplace
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This document discusses the benefits of workplace diversity and an inclusive environment. It notes that Canada's population growth will increasingly come from immigration, with over 20% of the Toronto workforce already consisting of immigrants. It states that a diverse workforce provides access to different talents and skills, increases productivity and retention, and allows for more solutions from diverse perspectives. Businesses can also better market to diverse consumers. However, workplaces that fail to foster inclusion see higher turnover rates. The document provides tips for organizations to be more diverse and inclusive, such as celebrating cultural differences, appointing a diversity coordinator, and ensuring consideration of religious holidays.
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Benefits of diversity in the workplace
- 1. Delivered by the PAIE program Toronto Region Conservation Authority
- 3. Workplace diversity is a people issue, focused on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization.
- 4. Statistics Canada predicts that by 2031, 80% of Canada’s population growth will come from immigration In Toronto, over 20% of the workforce is made up of immigrants More immigrants, women and gay/transgender individual are entering the workforce Population change expects that this will become the majority by 2042
- 5. Both customers and workers represent an even more diverse mix Organizations are increasingly tapping into international markets requiring workers with cross-cultural competencies and fluency in more than one language
- 6. Access to different talents working towards a common goal Tapping into a different set of skills increases retention and productivity
- 7. More solutions arise when different and diverse minds come together
- 8. Businesses can effectively market to consumers from different racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 9. Businesses that fail to foster inclusive workplaces see higher turnover rates Having a diverse and discrimination-free work environment helps businesses avoid these costs
- 10. For existing workers: ◦ Lead by example – show an interest in other cultures and a respect for differences. ◦ Offer diversity training – even a short one or two-hour workshop can help open your eyes and replace apprehension and fear with curiosity and respect ◦ Seek the help and input of employee groups, rather than mandate changes from the top ◦ Celebrate diversity – for example, recognize and accommodate cultural and religious differences ◦ Appoint a staff member as the Diversity Coordinator or create a Diversity Committee within the workplace that meets regularly to discuss issues relating to creating an inclusive workplace that meets the needs of a diverse workforce.
- 11. For newcomers: ◦ Mentoring: Pair a newcomer with a willing and capable employee who can answer questions, show them around and introduce them to other workers. ◦ Ensure that planning of events and schedules is done with recognition of important holidays for people of different ethnic backgrounds and religions. ◦ Meet with newcomers to discuss their experiences and find out whether they have run into any difficulties
- 12. How can your workplace culture benefit from more diversity and inclusivity?
- 13. For more information on scheduling Lunch & Learns through the PAIE program, contact one of our program coordinators
Editor's Notes
- Ask the audience this question and leave room to generate some discussion.
- With the recent information provided by Statistics Canada, there is going to be continued upsurge of immigrants entering the workforce in Canada. At the current rate of entry and over the long-term, it is projected that an even more significant portion of the workplace demographic will be comprised of newcomers to Canada. Toronto alone is a prime example of this continued trend as well over twenty percent of the workforce is made up on internationally trained professionals. All of which are from different countries comprised of different languages, backgrounds and cultural interpretations on what consists appropriate communication. Aside from the rising trend of immigrants entering the workforce, organizations becoming more diverse is important because of the continued rise of women moving into senior-level, executive and leading/entrpreneurial roles along with the fast movement of professionals that identify as gay/transgender that are entering and accessing more senior-level roles in the workplace. By 2042, it is estimated that this will be the major driving force of the labour market throughout Canada.
- As an employer, becoming a more diverse is crucial from a global perspective. With the advent of technology and wireless communication, the world is truly becoming a global community. Organizations are now able to tap into international markets and conduct business across the world with relative ease. Communication with professionals in another country with a different standard for intercultural communications and tapping into foreign markets with different interpretations of business etiquette and cultural norms can be a challenge for workplaces that do not foster a diverse and inclusive environment.
- By fostering a more diverse workplace and being inclusive to individuals from different cultural backgrounds, organizations will benefit from tapping into the a diverse talent pool that will drive a common goal. Organizations with a focus on diversity in the workplace have engaged employees who deliver improved business performance. Research has repeatedly demonstrated the links between the way people are managed with the attitude of employees and business performance – by incorporating a diversity focused approach in managing a team, it will not only improve employee performance, but also positively impact a company’s bottom line and result in increased employee retention, loyalty, reduced absenteeism and foster a team-oriented approach in the workplace.
- Research focused on problem-solving within a diversity framework shows that the more diverse a team, the more varied perspectives on what characterizes problem-solving. A team will benefit from a multitude of perspectives on identifying different agents of identifying a problem. Diversity within a team builds a richer amplitude of knowledge which allows access to a wider spectrum or problem and solution representations. The richer the amount of knowledge, the more effective the communication resulting in a stronger likelihood of providing a solution that integrates the various diverse beliefs and perspectives of the team – leading to a creative and innovative solution. Conversely, poorer diverse representations lead to worse performance when knowledge variety is limited.