Companies on Low Diversity - Research Paper Example

Companies on Low Diversity Embracing diversity has received much emphasis in America. America has a unique setting. It is a nation home to people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. As expected, the workforce represents the status of the society and consists of people of immense diversity. In the past, the American diversity resulted in discrimination of some people. Often referred to as the minority groups, these people have tales of the suffering as a result of differences in race. However, America is trying its best to embrace diversity positively. There is a realization that diversity can be a source of immense creativity and innovation. In the new light, American companies are doing their best to embrace and harness the value of diversity in all their aspects. This paper will explore ways in which these companies are embracing diversity. It will also highlight companies that are leading in embracing diversity as well those lagging behind. An understanding of the American diversity is crucial (Johnson 9). The workforce comprises Whites, African American, Hispanics, Latinos, Indians, Asians, and Africans. The Whites form the majority while the others are the minority groups. From a different angle, the minority group also includes women, and all disabled people. The American people are adherents of different religions (Wuthnow 130). The society has varying cultures and belief systems. The people grow up in different backgrounds and neighborhoods. The American society is greatly diverse. In addition, each individual has a unique personality and abilities. For companies, embracing diversity means more. Most of the companies are operating on a global front. Their markets are from different races and backgrounds. A good example is McDonalds that operates in many regions of the world (Harris 6). They realize the need to satisfy their clients. One of the strategies of survival has been to recruit a heterogeneous workforce. Such a workforce is a representation of the society. This workforce produces ideas that can address the needs of the market (Harris 58). In this sense, diversity results in innovation. Most of the companies who understand the need for diversity have a diversity officer in place. This officer ensures that the company maintains diversity and inclusion at all levels. Companies are working hard to ensure that there is inclusion in all offices and departments. Most of the companies are proving gender sensitive. A remarkable percentage of women sits in boards in many companies and indulges actively in decision-making and formulating practices at the workplace. Appreciating diversity in the American society has not been an easy venture. There are numerous challenges and the companies need to have a great deal of commitment. Such commitment drives the companies to lay down strategies that can help the company improve in appreciating diversity. Many of the companies have made remarkable progress in embracing diversity. However, some companies have not been making efforts towards the course of inclusion. It is apparent that they need to do more. Currently, there are ratings of the companies that rank highest in embracing diversity. If the other companies learn from the strategies used by these companies, they can make great progress (Daft 316). The human resource office is important in ensuring that companies recruit heterogeneous workers. It is the responsibility of the human resource manager and the diversity officer to work in conjunction to ensure that different vacancies consider people irrespective of race, culture, religion, and background. It is important if the two offices facilitate trainings that promote diversity. The workforce requires should have respect for each other despite the differences. A company’s employees need to rise above their differences and recognize the strengths each one of them has (Liswood 66). It is worth noting the success of some companies in embracing diversity. Fannie Mae is one of the companies portraying a realistic devotion to its commitment to embrace diversity. The company welcomes different ideas and perspectives from its employees. To this company, diversity brings in a good source of creativity. They make efforts to offer career development opportunities that accommodate their diversities and make relevant partnerships on a diverse range. Real embracing of diversity is the acceptance of each individual and his or her personality (Daft 316). Each individual is different and working together will mean rising over all the differences and having an accommodating spirit. Each organization requires teamwork in order to thrive in fast and competitive world. The human resource of companies that are ranking low on diversity need to take steps that will help all employees learn to accommodate one another. They need to facilitate training on soft skills. Soft skills will them develop qualities that can help them become better people. From such a basis, they will realize that they need to forget about their differences and participate positively to the growth of the company and other individuals. Strategies that Fannie Mae mentioned above prove that any company can improve on its diversity. They offer tools and resources that help their staff understand diversity. The company’s benefits factor the diverse backgrounds of its employees. In addition, they have programs aimed at creating a level between employees (Daft 318). In addition, Fannie Mae does its business in multicultural communities. Other companies ranking high in diversity include Bank of America, AT&T, Coca cola, and L’Oreal USA. All companies provide different services and products but they have realized that diversity contributes positively to the success of any other organization. Other companies lag behind in embracing diversity. It is becoming difficult for them to overcome exclusion. Some of them are global organizations while others are small organizations. In most of these organizations, there is under representation of minority groups from the executives down to the casual laborers. Their boards prove to be gender insensitive. Color is a barrier for some people baring them from promotions. Others do not feel that they receive full appreciation for just being themselves. In some companies, work practices do not favor a certain religion. These companies should take up challenge and review their diversity policies. It is evident that American companies need to work on the aspect of embracing diversity. There are challenges because all humans begin to notice the differences from others since birth. People grow up in different backgrounds and with varying prejudices (Liswood 68). Cultures vary widely. However, companies need to realize that each individual is uniquely different and can contribute positively to the growth of the company. New strategies need to come into place in every workplace to ensue an inclusive environment. Companies should realize that embracing diversity would help them address their market needs more effectively. These companies do not have a choice because the law requires of them to embrace diversity in all sectors. Works Cited Daft, Richard L. Understanding Management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2011. Print. Harris, Patricia S. None of Us Is As Good As All of Us: How Mcdonald's Prospers by Embracing Inclusion and Diversity. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print. Johnson, Michelle T. The Diversity Code: Unlock the Secrets to Making Differences Work in the Real World. Amacom, 2010. Print. Liswood, Laura A. The Loudest Duck: Moving Beyond Diversity While Embracing Differences to Achieve Success at Work. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2010. Print. Wuthnow, Robert. America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity. Princeton, NJ [u.a.: Princeton University Press, 2007. Print. Read More