Cultural values form the core of cultures and can include factors like time orientation, family obligations, communication patterns, interpersonal relationships, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and religious beliefs. Cultural diversity is important for businesses and communities to not only survive but thrive, as all community members need to feel respected and utilized. A culturally diverse workplace can provide benefits like improved customer service, access to new markets, and innovative ideas from a range of viewpoints, while a lack of diversity can lead to tensions, low morale, and poorer service quality.

4. Exploring Cultural Values Cultural values are frequently the source of cross-cultural differences in the multicultural workplace. Values that form the core of a culture can include: • time orientation • family obligations • communication patterns (including etiquette, space/distance, touch) • interpersonal relationships (including longstanding historic rivalries) • gender/sexual orientation • education • socioeconomic status • moral/religious beliefs • hygiene • clothing • meaning of work • personal traits

6. Cultural Diversity matters to every single one of us, both professionally and personally. For our businesses and communities to not only survive, but to thrive, each of us needs to be aware and sensitive to all the members of the community When all segments are respected and utilized, it benefits everyone involved. A great many of us live on the "margins" of society. To be in a margin means that we are not a part of the mainstream, popular culture. In this nation, our popular culture, or ideal for business success, is white, young, heterosexual, Christian, and male.

7. In regards to cultural diversity in the workplace, we are on the margins if we are:  having any ethnic background that is non-white  are not a heterosexual  are not a Christian  are not between the ages of 21-50 America is the most diverse nation in the world. Cultural diversity in the workplace is becoming more and more desired. Our ethnicity, religion, life experience, etc., makes each of us unique. Ideas our nation once embraced about assimilation are now inappropriate and outdated. For someone who lives on the margins to assimilate into a single idea of acceptance to fit into society is a gross violation of their individual identity and rights. This means that we all need to learn to accept what is different from us and respect it. Contd…

8. Benefits of a Culturally Diverse Workplace Improved customer service Responsive service delivery and enhanced staff skills Reduction in skill shortages Access to overseas markets Workplace diversity Valuing diversity

9. Tension among staff distrust of anything new gossip and rumour open hostility or bullying absenteeism tarnishing of the agency's reputation low staff retention rates lack of response to customers falling standards of service quality.

10. The new way is to treat diversity as an asset that brings a broad range of viewpoints and problem-solving skills to the company. Good diversity management frees employees of the need to assimilate and play it safe, and encourages them to develop their strengths and present innovative ideas.