Advantages and Disadvanyages of Cultural Diversity in The Workplace

Introduction

In the past, diversity was not considered to be one of the important factors in organizations. For example, in the United States, which is one of the leading countries, diversity in the workplace was nearly non-existent for the first 150 years after the country's founding. However, in contemporary times, diversity has become essential, especially in a rapidly globalizing economy. It is now a central area of organizational behavior and management development, emphasizing the importance of creating synergy through cultural intelligence. According to TalentLyft (2023), diversity in the workplace can be defined as a company employing a wide range of diverse individuals. In other words, a diverse workforce includes people with different characteristics, such as varying gender, age, religion, race, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, languages, education, and abilities. On the other hand, there are issues every business should consider when pursuing diversity, such as the high cost of diversity management, discrimination, and communication issues. The purpose of this is to ensure organizations can pursue diversity despite some barriers it brings. Therefore, organizations should embrace diversity despite the few difficulties it may entail.

Challenges of Diversity in the Workplace

To understand why diversity was not prevalent in the workplace for a long time, even after the war, one must consider the challenges of bringing diversity to businesses and the post-war mindset that rejected those who were different. First, the challenge of diversity is the high cost of diversity management. Improving job satisfaction through diversity management can be very expensive. Organizations striving to effectively manage a diverse workforce must undergo mandatory diversity training. During this training, supervisors, employees, and managers receive lessons on the best ways to interact with each other and their clients. Moreover, discrimination can exist as a hidden aspect of a poorly managed workplace. When a worker is discriminated against, it affects their performance and the perception of equity, raising litigation issues. Communication issues can also impede effective communication, leading to decreased productivity and reduced cohesiveness among workers. Cultural clashes during co-worker orientation periods and first impressions can be difficult to manage. Lastly, incorporation issues arise as social inclusion at the workplace cannot always be maximized. The appearance of exclusive social groups is often a natural process that cannot always be managed, leading to unconscious bias and cultural barriers that prevent people from embracing diversity. Companies may experience informal divisions among employees, creating conditions where different workers avoid interaction during leisure times and after work hours. Although this theory does not seem inherently incorrect, it may lessen the effectiveness of information sharing among teams and decrease productivity (Mayhew, 2013). Therefore, in the past, some businesses did not consider diversity an important part of their operations.

The Importance of Diversity in Contemporary Business

However, times have changed, and diversification in business is now a top factor in a company's success. Here are some reasons why:

High Productivity Levels

Increasing efficiency in the workforce has been a significant challenge for managers and executives, as well as for businesses in general. Each organization has its specific framework and priorities, and various approaches can be used to enhance profitability. One such approach includes adopting workplace diversity and managing it effectively. When management focuses on the well-being of its employees by providing suitable pay, health insurance, and employee assessments, it encourages staff to feel a sense of belonging to the company, regardless of their cultural background. As a result, employees become more loyal and hard-working, contributing to improved profitability and income.

The Sharing of Ideas and Collaboration

In recent years, collaboration has been increasingly promoted by companies and organizations as a way to achieve better task performance and deliver goods and services. A single person performing multiple tasks cannot match the speed of a team; each team member brings various ideas and provides unique perspectives during problem-solving. This approach helps find the best solutions in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, workplace diversity creates opportunities for personal growth. When workers are exposed to new cultures, ideas, and viewpoints, it helps them gain a deeper insight into their position in the global world and their surroundings. Spending time with culturally diverse colleagues gradually breaks down latent barriers and ethnocentrism, allowing employees to become more mature members of society.

Diverse Experience

Staff and colleagues from diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives and expertise to the table during teamwork or group activities. Pooling the varied expertise and awareness of culturally distinct workers supports the organization by improving team flexibility and efficiency in responding to changing circumstances. Every diverse culture has its own advantages and disadvantages, and every diverse employee has unique strengths and weaknesses resulting from their community. When each worker's unique characteristics are properly and effectively managed, the company can exploit these strengths and complement its limitations, significantly impacting the workforce. Therefore, in the long term, businesses must regard diversity as a crucial factor for development.

Conclusion

In conclusion, diversity is important for businesses, and organizations should pursue it despite some disadvantages it may bring. Key benefits of diversity include high productivity levels, a variety of ideas and teamwork, learning and growth, and diverse experiences. Clearly, the benefits gained from diversity are essential for almost every organization. In the future, diversity will continue to develop, and businesses with diverse workplace environments will thrive. Those unable to adapt will be left behind.

References

• TalentLyft. (2023). What is workplace diversity? Retrieved from https://www.talentlyft.com/en/blog/article/285/what-is-workplace-diversity
• Mayhew, R. (2013). Advantages and disadvantages of diversity in workplace. Retrieved from https://www.chron.com