Chapter 4: Managing diversity

people management

diversity is, after all, about people, both inside and outside the organization.

employee resource groups

groups made up of employees connected by some common dimension of diversity.

Workplace diversity

is the ways in which people in an organization are different from and similar to one another

stereotyping

judging a person based on a prejudicial perception of a group to which that person belongs.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

passed in 1990, prohibits discrimination against people who are handicapped or disabled. Its goals are to promote community integration by prohibiting discrimination based on disability; to create early intervention services for infants and todlers (ages birth to 3 years) with special needs and their families; and to provide non-discriminatory, multidisciplinary evaluation by qualified professionals.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act,

prohibits discrimination in employment and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

diversity skills training

specialized training to educate employees about the importance of diversity and to teach them skills for working in a diverse workplace

glass ceiling

the invisible barrier that separates women and minorities from top management positions.

Importance of managing diversity

People management benefits Organizational performance benefits Strategic benefits

Age Discrimination in Employment Act

Act that prohibits discrimination in employment for persons age 40 and over except where age is a bona fide occupational qualification.

Different types of diversity in a work place

Age (older workers and younger workers) Gender (male and female) Race and ethnicity (racial and ethnic classifications), Disability/abilities a disability that limits major life activities),Religion (religious beliefs and religious practices), Sexual orientation and gender identity (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Other (for instance, socioeconomic background, team members from different functional areas, physical attractiveness, obesity, job seniority, and so forth).

Challenges managers face with diversity

Bias is a tendency or preference toward a particular perspective or ideology Prejudice, which is a preconceived belief, opinion, or judgment toward a person or a group of people Glass ceiling refers to the invisible barrier that separates women and minorities from top management positions.

organization performance

cost savings include reducing employee turnover, absenteeism, and the chance of lawsuits

prejudice

a pre-conceived belief, opinion, or judgment toward a person or a group of people

mentoring

a process whereby an experienced organizational member (a mentor) provides advice and guidance to a less-experienced member (a protégé)

bias

a tendency or preference toward a particular perspective or ideology.

discrimination

when someone acts out their prejudicial attitudes toward people who are the targets of their prejudice.

strategic

workforce diversity is a key to extracting the best talent performance, market share, and suppliers from a diverse country and world.