Workplace Diversity is Here to Stay (Carol Smith Commentary)

So much has been written about diversity in the workplace that some business executives feel it is a trend that will eventually fade away, only to be replaced by another hot management nuance. Those executives are wrong.

Some companies just ignore diversity, assuming their workplace culture is fine and that employees can figure out how to get along with fellow employees with little or no support from management. Those companies will never realize their greatest potential.

Diversity is all around us. While it presents challenges and frustrations, it can be a company’s strongest ally.

Diversity issues strategically planned and managed will result in the two primary goals of corporate leadership: increased profits and a positive public image.

As a former business owner and banker, I dealt with workplace and community diversity issues frequently. Now as president of a management and human relations consulting firm specializing in workplace diversity, I counsel others on this critical management issue.

Diversity in Arkansas

Diversity in the workplace is big everywhere, but in Arkansas it is huge. The Hispanic population is growing at such a rapid pace that we can’t keep accurate totals. The number of Caucasians in the workplace is declining slightly (less than 1 percent). But Latinos in the workplace are experiencing a staggering 276 percent growth rate; Asians, 43 percent; and African-Americans, 7 percent. At the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock, 72 countries are represented from its employee base of 9,000.

Companies can reap much benefit from diversity that exists in their workplace. The smart companies are those realizing that in order to be successful they must develop leaders who will embrace change, value each employee and strengthen employees to work as a focused and engaged team.

Diversity Defined

So what do we mean by diversity? Obviously, it is about differences, and the world is full of it.

As intelligent and savvy as most business executives are, diversity often perplexes them, and the mismanagement of diversity throws their work environment and employee morale into a tailspin. Diversity issues that are not appropriately addressed can create a dysfunctional environment and a poor corporate reputation.

As a business leader, how often have you said, “If my employees could only get along better”? Or how frequently has an employee said to you, “I just can’t work with that individual. We’re too different”?

Most think of diversity as a black and white racial matter, or more recently, as a Hispanic issue. It is much more.

Diversity is about differences in physical and mental challenges, differences in religion, values, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, age, gender, educational levels and sexual orientation.

Inclusion is a Must

The key to diversity success is inclusion.

Every employee must feel valued and key to the organization’s success. People still set companies apart. All the technology in the world does no good if people cannot get along and work as a team.

Then there is the work-life balance issue. Most employees spend more time at work than they actually do at home, so work must be fulfilling and enjoyable or your employees will seek work elsewhere. Job satisfaction is key.

Employers should be reminded that employees don’t leave jobs; they leave people.

Diversity? It’s here to stay.

Inclusion? That’s the answer.

(Carole Smith of Little Rock is the newly named president of Hattie Hill Enterprises, a management and human relations consulting firm specializing in strategic diversity training.)