Cultural Issues in Workplace Ethics

Respecting other cultures can improve a workplace.

In today's globalized workplace, it's common to find people from all kinds of backgrounds working together towards a shared goal. Employees may have different cultures and languages, which can lead to problems in interpersonal interactions. Under the circumstances, taking steps to culturally acclimatize your workforce can help prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.

Benefits of Cultural Diversity

Cultural diversity at the workplace is extremely desirable for an organization's success and competitiveness. An organization employing a diverse workforce can adapt easily in a global market. Employees from different backgrounds bring a variety of experiences and ideas that can help an organization grow.

Common Cultural Barriers

Cultural issues at the workplace may range from language to personal space and gender roles. Properly appreciating these differences is essential to prevent any potential problems. For example, in some cultures, women do not openly interact with men; accordingly, they may feel uncomfortable or violated when American men try to interact with them, potentially leading to sexual harassment suits. Similarly, non-verbal gestures are not the same across the world and may be wrongly interpreted. Religion is another sensitive subject; employers must stress that employees respect all religions to avoid problems.

Increasing Cultural Harmony

The human resources department can take several steps to make the workforce tolerant of cultural differences and minimize potential workplace issues. Orientation programs for new hires will help them adjust to the company's cultural differences. Senior employees could act as mentors or coaches to help newer employees adapt better, or HR could recruit bilingual supervisors to help the transition easier for foreign employees. The company may also benefit by providing sensitivity training to native employees to make them aware of cultural differences.

Employee Sensitivity

Employees can also take certain steps to avoid problems in a culturally diverse workplace. Immigrant and foreign workers could make an extra effort to learn the local language and understand the culture; meanwhile, native employees could proactively try to make the foreign workers feel comfortable and help them adapt faster. Native workers should avoid the use of slang and local jargon, which may not make any sense to foreigners. Workers should also take steps to learn as much as they can about each other's cultures. Finally, everyone must understand that each individual is different and resist the temptation to stereotype.

References

• The Multicultural Advantage; Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions; Josh Greenberg
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board; Cultural and Language Barriers in the Workplace; February 2002