According to the conventional definition of diversity, there are theoretically limitless varieties of variety in a social setting because they include every trait that might vary among a group of people (such as hair or eye color). But typically, we focus on seven different sorts of diversity in the workplace.
What Are The Types Of Diversity?
Diversity in the workplace simply refers to the presence of workers who differ in terms of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.
People from many societal groups and backgrounds will make up the workforce of a company that values diversity. In spite of everyone’s differences, it is also a place where everyone is treated fairly.
Why Is Workplace Diversity Important?
What are the four categories of diversity, first, before responding to the question? Understanding the precise reasons why workplace diversity is important is useful.
Some of the ways that diversity affects your workplace, workforce, and bottom line are as follows:
- Diverse perspectives – People with different origins and life experiences frequently have a greater range of perspectives.
- Better problem-solving – According to Scientific American, a workforce with a variety of points of view encourages employees to work harder, think more creatively, and produce work of a higher caliber.
- Greater audience — Having a diverse workforce demonstrates your dedication to equal opportunity, which enhances the brand recognition of your business and increases market share.
- More applicants for jobs – Job searchers may be more inclined to want to work for your organization, giving you a broader pool of candidates to select from.
Increased profits: According to McKinsey & Company’s ongoing studies, businesses with high degrees of racial and ethnic diversity are 33–35 percent more likely to outperform the average for their industry in terms of financial performance.
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Types Of Diversity In The Workplace
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Age
- Citizenship Status
- Education
- Income
- Skills
- Beliefs
- Upbringing
- National Origin
- Management Status
The Main 4 Types of Diversity
Internal diversity
What a person is born into has an impact on their internal variety. These characteristics are a component of each person’s inner self-concept and are something they are born with.
Race, ethnicity, age, country of origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and physical ability are a few examples of internal diversity.
Although these are individual considerations, they have a direct bearing on the 30 rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. No workplace discrimination or unconscious bias based on these personal statuses should be tolerated.
Business Resource Groups are a fantastic example of how Mastercard promotes internal diversity and inclusion. These self-governing organizations are based on various interests, such as Asian culture, African descent, employees who identify as LGBTQ, women in leadership, and active-duty and retired military members.
More than half of the workforce at Mastercard choose to participate in business resource groups and devote their time to fostering a welcoming environment where everyone feels like they belong.
External diversity
A person’s external diversity types have a significant impact on them. These are demographics that an individual has the power to alter by taking outside action.
Education, life experiences, social background, spirituality, religion, citizenship, location, and familial status are a few examples of external variety.
It’s vital to remember that although these external diversity types can be altered, doing so is frequently challenging because of established political or economic structures.
By respecting the needs of various cultures, businesses can promote diversity in the workplace, for instance. With a permanent workforce that does not have a racial majority, Kaiser Permente is the largest managed healthcare organization in the USA. By offering all of their employees services and medical care that are appropriate for their cultural backgrounds, their diversity strategy promotes diversity outside the company. The United States is home to 140 distinct civilizations, each with their own demands.
Worldviews of Diversity
Each of us has a unique worldview that is influenced by our prior experiences. Daily life events have an impact on the diversity of our worldviews.
Various worldview examples Cultural occurrences, political viewpoints, historical information, and one’s philosophy on life can all contribute to diversity.
Organizations may discover that many employees have distinct world views and experiences that make them feel disconnected from their peers as workplace diversity increases.
Marriott has a dedicated multicultural affairs section that offers opportunities for cultural education through forums, webinars, and Culture Day workshops. Marriott employs more than 174,000 workers worldwide. They promote diversity in all its forms, from hiring students from underserved neighborhoods to developing international communication strategies to foster a sense of community.
Fostering diversity in the workplace offers no shortage of benefits to your workforce and your organizational growth. Request a demo to learn more about our DEI intelligence solution, built for enterprise organizations.
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Organizational diversity
A diverse workplace has a good effect on the overall firm. These elements are a part of the jobs we hold or the businesses where we work.
Job function, management level, seniority, department, or union affiliation are a few examples of organizational variety.
Because it has an effect on businesses, organizational diversity is vital to monitor. To increase DEI overall within a business, diversity is necessary at every level of the organization. This implies that a diverse group of employees representing various demographics fills every position and department.
A real-world example is L’Oréal, who leads for gender equality with women accounting for 53% of key leadership positions, as well as 69% of their workforce. L’Oréal has a strong commitment to organizational diversity by advocating and promoting people from a variety of demographic backgrounds. This global organization has grown its presence to 130 countries and is a leader in their industry.
Conclusion
For any firm, it is crucial to recognize the value of diversity in the workplace. If you haven’t already, now is the moment to put the seven types of workplace diversity that we described into practice.
