Helping Nordins Confectionaries Ltd to Come up with Ways to Tackle Inequality - Case Study Example

Managing Diversity and Equality Name: Institution: Date of Submission: Introduction Most of the issues arising from management of diversity and equality within organizations revolve around the majority and minority groups’ outlook and the treatment accorded to women. Hence race and gender need a lot of consideration when it comes to enhancing and improving diversity and equality within the working place. For instance at Nordins Confectionaries ltd, women have expressed their grievances with regard to their treatment by a supervisor they claim uses inappropriate language in addressing them as well as feeling that they are not fairly and appropriately considered when it comes to promotions. The company has done well with regard to diversity and equality through balancing employees of both genders in its operations as well as having employees from different ethnicities such as Indians and Pakistanis among their workforce. However, it is important for the company to consider various aspects and actions in order to streamline its operations and practices with regard to the issue of equality and diversity. It is of essence for any organization to streamline its practices and procedures so as to enhance quality service delivery. Streamlining the work place and services planning and delivery enhances equality within the organization. Diversity within an organization should be seen as strength therefore the need to promote it in a positive and appropriate manner by getting rid of discrimination. This report aims at helping Nordins Confectionaries ltd to come up with ways to tackle inequality and bolster positive diversity within the company. Ways of enhancing and Improving Diversity and Equality To enhance equality and diversity in the company, the management should undertake a number of actions. These actions are explained below; The company should conduct an equality and diversity audit to help evaluate whether there is adequate equality and diversity within the Company’s practices and procedures. Through the audit, an organization is in a position to identify the areas that need to be addressed and improved with regard to equality and diversity hence helping to draw up an ideal action plan for improvements. With the result of the audit, the organization is in a better position to execute a rational action plan based on the facts availed by the audit conclusion. The company should show its commitment through developing an approach to address the issue of diversity and equality within the organization. This can be done through developing a policy on the matter to govern and enhance equality and diversity within the workplace for instance, setting up an equal status policy to enhance equality, as well as a special committee to deal with the issues of diversity and equality. The company can enhance this through availing the required resources to facilitate the actions identified as needing attention or improvement so as to promote equality and diversity. With such a policy in place, it depicts a commitment by the company to be actively involved in eliminating discrimination and uphold equality and diversity. This is because, when putting up a policy the organizational issues are looked into so as to evaluate how they affect the organization’s practice and what needs to be done to ensure these issued are tackled for instance in our case inequality and discrimination. It is considered a good thing to have in place a policy addressing such issues of equality and diversity because the company is able to send a message to the staff about what is expected of them in promoting equality, the company’s stakeholders are able to see the commitment of the organization and the organization is able to prove to funders that they have met one of their conditions for funding which is commitment to equality and diversity. The policy should then be communicated to the organization after approval is made so as to create awareness. After communication the policy should then be put into practice and everyone should adhere to its provisions and action taken against those who violate. To enhance diversity within the workforce, the organization needs to be diverse itself in its undertakings. One way of doing this is through its recruitment and employment procedures. The organization should demonstrate equality and diversity in its recruitment process by taking into account the diverse and distinct abilities in the community, and create a good image as a good employer. The company should ensure that there is equality in its recruitment and promotions to exclude any form of bias or discrimination. Positions should also be allocated on a diverse nature by recruiting candidates from various backgrounds. Recruitment and selection of employees is of key significance to the human resource strategies for majority of organizations. Diversity in businesses is having differentiating factors among the staff and employees. These differences might be Gender, ethnicity or disability. If such differences are incorporated in an organization, it shows positive diversity which enables the organization to value everyone as individuals and employees The company should endeavor to create extensive acquaintance and comprehension with regard to equality and diversity within the organization. This can be achieved by, training managers and employees at all levels, organizing workshops or special days for creating awareness on matters concerning equality and diversity. Another way of enhancing effective equality and diversity in the workplace is by creating an organizational culture that supports diversity and equality. This can be achieved through incorporating equality and diversity in the company’s mission and vision statements. This can also be achieved by including the issue on the agendas for management meetings with regard to all departments of the company so that equality and diversity can be incorporated into all the company’s procedures and lines of operations such as supervision, finance human resource among others. Leadership should be provided from the top management downwards for the company to achieve the benefits associated with embracing equality and diversity within the organization. This can be achieved by the top management active involvement in promoting equality and diversity. For example, by recognizing those employees championing the issue of equality and ensure that their recognition and support is visible to the rest of the organization. An effective organization must be led by effective leaders who lead by example and do what they say they will do guided by the organizations mission and vision statement. This is driven by a sense of responsibility by worrying about the effect one’s actions has on others, hence feeling a sense of obligation and relying on the ethical standards as required by the company. Monitoring and evaluation of the company’s procedures and practices is significant in ensuring there is equality and diversity. Through monitoring a company is able to know whether it is in the right track to achieve the set out goals and objectives as set out in the action plan. There is need by the company to develop and encourage a collaborative approach in its practices and procedures. This collaboration would enhance involvement and engagement of employees at all levels in the organization. This enables the employees to embrace equality as they can undertake same tasks with other employees from different levels. Exchange of ideas by the employees and learning from each other by working together can be of utmost benefit to the company and the individual employees in the long run. A collaborative approach can be achieved through interlinking with other organizations driven by the need to develop and enhance equality and diversity in their workplaces too. The company should also participate in sectoral initiatives that which avail opportunities for learning and networking as well as training opportunities. For any human resource manager in any large organization, it is their duty to introduce a novel personal development plan, which will form an integral part of the organization’s performance management system. One way of achieving this is through training. This empowers the employees and enables them to value factors such as diversity and equality as they are able to view them on another perspective. Conclusion Respect for human diversity should be an important part of any individual or organization as individuals meet and deal with people from different backgrounds each day. One should respect each and everyone despite their social status, gender, ethnicity or what they do. In adherence to this the company should ensure that all employees at all levels as well as all the company’s stakeholders are treated with respect and in fairness. Human resource management is key to the success of any company in the ever-changing competitive business environment. A human resource strategy that facilitates equality and diversity in the workplace enhances recruitment of employees from a diversified background according to the company’s requirements. Valuing diversity and equality affords a company the benefit of having in place a vibrant working atmosphere as these differences offer the company a variety of ideas, experiences and skills. A company should also endeavor to afford fairness and equality in its recruitment, policies and practices to ensure that all staff are treated in a fair, objective and equal manner. Read More