How to Promote & Manage Diversity in the Workplace
Promoting and managing diversity in the workplace is an ongoing effort. It isn't accomplished in one month or in an annual meeting. Managers, starting from the top of the organization, must fully support the effort and act as advocates. The company and the managers must stress why diversity is good for business. That's something that can resonate with every employee, especially if diversity is tied to making the company stronger and providing more job security for all employees.
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Instructions
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Create a diversity mission statement. It's impossible for an organization to promote and manage diversity if the organization is unclear about its position on the subject. Diversity mission statements may vary depending on the organization, but generally they detail the organization's commitment to acceptance and respect for all people, along with tolerances for differences in beliefs and lifestyle. Mission statements may also expressly prohibit discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation or mental or physical disability.
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Distribute the diversity mission statement to all managers during a meeting with the chief executive officer. The CEO must make it clear that the company will hold true to the beliefs in the diversity mission statement and that every manager is accountable for promoting and adhering to the principles in the statement.
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Establish benchmarks for promoting and managing diversity in the organization and tie success to performance reviews for all managers. Also tie annual bonuses to success.
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Require every manager to personally deliver diversity mission statements to employees and discuss why the initiative is important. Share company objectives regarding diversity, such as diversity hiring initiatives, in-house public speaker forums with people from various backgrounds, and company community events appealing to diverse audiences. Hammer home the point that diversity is much more than race and gender.
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Schedule regular meetings with managers to chart progress. Conduct online surveys with employees for updates and also schedule periodic town hall meetings with the entire company or departments.
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