Chapter 8

Trends in Workforce Diversity

- Changing demographics in the labor force - Diversity as a source of competitive advantage - Employment legislation and legal actions - Globalization movement

Reasons Glass ceiling exists

-Male managers are still reluctant to promote females mangers -Many talented women choose to leave their jobs in larger organizations and start their own business -Some women spend or slow their career progression to have children

Diversity management

-Places heavy emphasis on recognizing and appreciating differences among people at work -Attempts to provide accommodations for those differences to the extent that is feasible and possible

Age Distribution

-The baby boom generation continues to age. -Declining birthrates among post-baby-boom generations simultaneously account for smaller percentages of new entrants into the labor force. -Improved health and medical care, enables people to remain productive and active for longer periods of time.

Glass ceiling

A barrier that keeps women from advancing to top management positions in many organizations

Changing Demographics

As more women and minorities have entered the labor force, the available pool of talent from which organizations hire employees has changed in both size and composition.

Increased awareness by organizations that they can improve the overall quality of the workforce by hiring and promoting the most talented people available regardless of gender, race, or any other characteristic.

By casting a broader net in recruiting and looking beyond traditional sources for new employees, organizations are finding more broadly qualified and better employees from many different segments of society.

Diversity

Exists in a group or organization when its members differ from one another along one or more important dimension.

Other dimensions of diversity

Religion Sexual orientation Social economic status Education Experience Physical appearance

Make sure that the acknowledgment and accommodation are equitable:

Everyone needs to have an equal opportunity to contribute to and advance within the organization.

Disability

Perception about an employee with a disability depends on the Origin and Nature of the disability and its aesthetic aspects.

Ethnicity

Refers to ethnic composition of a group or organization

Globalization movement

Strategic alliances and foreign ownership have also contributed because managers today are more likely to have job assignments in other countries or to work with foreign managers within their own countries.

When Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed, many HR managers operated under the assumption that they were required by law to ?

Treat everyone equally

True or False More people are working beyond the retirement age just a few years ago.

True

True or False Older workers are nevertheless likely to require higher levels of insurance coverage and medical benefits.

True

True or False Older workers tend to have more experience, may be more stable, and can make greater contributions to productivity.

True

True or False The Average Age of U.S. workers is gradually increasing and will continue doing so.

True

True or False The average pay of females in organizations is lower than that of males.

True

True or False The overall number of retirees combined with fewer younger members of the workforce may lead to future labor shortages, even though some workers are staying in workforce longer.

True

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) presents a serious challenge to managers who....?

Try to balance treating everyone the same and treating everyone equitably.

Legislation and legal actions

Various laws have outlawed discrimination against these and various groups. Organizations must hire and promote people today solely on the basis of their qualifications.

The ADA specifically states that an organization cannot discriminate against a person with a disability as long as he/she .....

can perform the essential functions of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Equal Employment Opportunity

treating people fairly and equitably and taking actions that do not discriminate against people in protected classes on the basis of some illegal criterion