Diversity in the workplace refers to the differences between workers and how accepted they are among the employees. As a manager, if you notice problems between the worker's because of their backgrounds, ethnicity, gender or religion, it's time to encourage diversity and celebrate the differences between the various employees. Through an aggressive diversity program, you can teach your employees that diversity is a desirable way to learn about others and build a stronger company based on the foundation of respect and acceptance.
Step 1
Ensure that you hire employees based upon skill, education and background, not personal biases regarding race, religion or gender. You should always hire the best person for the job, and you can set an example by actively recruiting and hiring minorities in your office, so long as they fit the job description. Never discriminate against a minority through the job process; it's against the law and it sets a negative precedent for your employees.
Step 2
Examine your own prejudices and biases when it comes to ethnicity. You cannot become a good example of accepting diversity if you already struggle with the concept, notes the University of Florida Cooperative Extension. Think about the problems you have with presenting diversity as a positive influence on the workplace and brainstorm the ways your prejudices hinder you at work. Once you've worked through your own issues, you're ready to lead your employees through their biases.
Step 3
Introduce policies and procedure that take various ethnicities, religions and genders into consideration. For instance, you may institute a rule where all religious holidays can be celebrated by those of a particular religion to show inclusiveness for non-Christian employees.
Step 4
Celebrate your differences by having parties and events that allow employees to get to know each other better and find out more about each other's various backgrounds. A cultural party where you encourage employees to bring an ethnic dish for a potluck lunch may help. Celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa at the office can also show inclusiveness and tolerance for various religions, suggests Celebrations.com.
Step 5
Show a heavy hand when it comes to employees who harass or break the rules when it comes to accepting diversity in the workplace, suggests BBC News. Take any sort of discrimination seriously, whether it an outright bullying based on color, gender or religion or it's a passive-aggressive means of discrimination, like passing over a minority for a promotion. Decide how your company will deal with discrimination in the workplace and create a no-tolerance policy to protect your office's diversity.
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