Types of Workforce Diversity

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Image Source - (Bika, n.d.)

The varieties of diversity in a social construct are theoretically unlimited, according to the traditional concept of diversity. It includes every attribute that appears in a group of people, including variations. However, there are seven basic types of diversity that we can see in the workplace(Hanks, 2018).

1. Race and Ethnicity

When it comes to workplace diversity, race and ethnicity are critical considerations. In light of the United States' and the rest of the world's lengthy, contentious, and confusing history with race. Race and ethnicity are often confused, although they are not the same thing. Race refers to a person's biological identity, which includes physical features such as skin color, hair type, and other physical characteristics. The race of a person may have an impact on things like life expectancy and how they are treated by the criminal justice system. Ethnicity, on the other hand, refers to a person's cultural background. It covers a wide range of racial and ethnic identities. It's about cultural or geographic history, not just biology.

2. Age and Generation

Generations, for example, are divided into baby boomers, Generation X, Y, and Z, and millennials. Although it is obvious that persons of the same age group do not always think the same way, age does define some similarities. Generation Z, for example, was born after 1995 and has never known a world without cell phones or the internet. When contrasted to those in the 1970s, this has a significant impact on how they think. Companies frequently engage in age bias, whether consciously or unconsciously. When you solely hire from university campuses, for example, you are excluding older people who may also be entry-level employees. Many firms, on the other hand, only hire experienced employees based on their age, leaving out young freshers who have the necessary expertise(Gayan, 2021). 

3. Gender and Gender Identity

Because women make up half of the country's population, it's critical that they have equal representation in the workplace. This is one of the most visible sorts of diversity: a gender-diverse work culture is about equality more than the number of women and men in the firm. To be considered a legitimately gender-diverse firm, you must address the gender pay gap, in which women are paid less for doing the same job as their male colleagues. Businesses must address issues like the gender pay gap, where women are consistently paid less for the same employment as their male counterparts, in order to be truly gender diverse. Organizations must examine the constraints that both genders face when contributing to the workforce in order to determine how they may remove some of those restrictions for their employees in order to be successful.

4. Sexual Orientation

Sexuality or sexual orientation refers to a person's attraction to other people. Although it is a personal matter, employees must feel free to discuss their sexuality with their coworkers without fear of discrimination or harassment. Because the LGBTQ+ community is made up of people with a wide range of backgrounds and interests, it faces numerous problems at work. People who are members of sexual minorities must be safe in an organization. Employee retention and job happiness are both boosted by an equitable workplace(Gayan, 2021).

5. Religious and Spiritual Beliefs

Many religions are practiced and followed by people all around the world. Many employees also follow their own religious beliefs. It's critical to be aware of your company's religious unconscious prejudices if you want to foster diversity in the workplace. The freedom to practice your religion in the workplace, such as wearing a rosary or a headscarf, demonstrates tolerance and equality. It is possible to build a diverse work culture if your organization provides specific prayer rooms, religious holidays, and celebrations.

6. Disability

Most individuals believe that impairment is solely related to physical movement. Workers, on the other hand, may have disabilities ranging from visual and movement impairments to learning problems and mental health issues. If you wish to promote diversity, you must make accommodations for those with disabilities who are as productive as their peers. Companies must also focus on making the workplace accessible to all employees by replacing stairwells with elevators and ramps. To make communication go more smoothly, try using telephone headsets and screen readers(Gayan, 2021). 

7. Socioeconomic Status and Background

Employees in a company come from various socioeconomic backgrounds and have differing perspectives on various aspects of life, such as money, social position, education, and so on. Someone who grew up in poverty, for example, may have a different perspective than someone who comes from a wealthy home. It's critical to pay attention to whether or not your company prioritizes employing employees from diverse backgrounds. You must also verify that no employee is discriminated against because of their socioeconomic standing. To do so, you can only hire through newspaper ads rather than internet job searches.

Understanding the value of diversity in the workplace is critical for every firm. We've highlighted seven sorts of workplace diversity that every firm should focus on; if you haven't already, now is the time to do so(Gayan, 2021). 

References

Bika, N. (n.d) How to foster workplace diversity [Online] Workable. Available at: https://resources.workable.com/stories-and-insights/workplace-diversity#
[Accessed 01st  December 2021].

Edward. (n.d) Inclusion and Employee Diversity: Here are the Numbers[Online] AIHR.
Available at: https://www.aihr.com/blog/inclusion-employee-diversity-numbers/
[Accessed 01st  December 2021].

Gayan, G. (2021) 7 Types Of Diversity Modern Workplaces Must Focus On[Online] Vantage Circle.
Available at: https://blog.vantagecircle.com/types-of-diversity/
[Accessed 01st  December 2021].

Hanks, C. (2018) What is Workforce Diversity?.[Online] Wonolo.
Available at: https://www.wonolo.com/blog/what-is-workforce-diversity/
[Accessed 01st December 2021].

 

Comments

  1. Anushka Jayasekara1 December 2021 at 20:26

    These are some examples of internal and external diversity. According to Alliant International University (2021), we can further categorize workforce diversity into organizational and worldview diversity. Some examples are seniority, job title, pay type, political beliefs, moral compass, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Denuwan Munasinghe14 December 2021 at 06:00

      Yes. If we categories they, we can identify many things

      Delete
  2. Saminda Goonawardana14 December 2021 at 06:42

    very useful facts...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Prasadi Purnima Dilrukshi14 December 2021 at 07:45

    Thanking for sharing this post.very important

    ReplyDelete
  4. Duminda Gunathilake14 December 2021 at 10:59

    Very clear explanation .

    ReplyDelete
  5. Duminda Gunathilake15 December 2021 at 05:05

    Agreed with you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Chinthaka Kiulgalla16 December 2021 at 09:33

    Good work. keep it up

    ReplyDelete
  7. AKILA18 December 2021 at 00:36

    HR professionals have to implement better stratergies to manage the work place diversity. If there is not a proper stratergies it will creare more grievances.

    ReplyDelete

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