In this blog, we are going to share real-life examples of cultural misunderstandings from our cross-cultural training work. That’s because diversity in the workplace does not necessarily mean inclusivity in the workplace. Aligning diversity practices with unique organizational goals. 1. Cultural differences are the various beliefs, behaviors, languages, practices and expressions considered unique to members of a specific ethnicity, race or national origin. Contribute to the cultural diversity of your own workplace; Remember, diversity can take many forms. Yes, making diversity a priority is important; but so is the next logical step: creating a culture where people from all backgrounds feel included. There are four components to cultural competency that were developed by Diversity Training University International (DTUI). Workplace diversity trainers often mention that there are more similarities among employees than there are differences… For example, millennials, GenZers and GenXers can coexist in the same workplace. In our workplaces, most of us would accept cultural diversity as part of everyday life. … Cultural diversity in the workplace extends beyond national origin and includes many factors pertaining to employees’ heredity and experience in areas such as religion, language, political views and moral codes. Cultural diversity in the workplace is when companies are open to hiring employees from all sorts of different backgrounds; regardless of race, religion and culture. Different perceptions of time can cause a great misunderstanding and mishap in the workplace, especially with scheduling and deadlines. The term “workplace diversity” is most often used to refer to differences in race, gender and age. Un Beso in Argentina. According to Equality Challenge Unit, implicit or unconscious bias happens by our brains making incredibly quick judgments and assessments of people and situations without us realizing. The differences can be based on gender, age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and social status. For example, the culture of a large, for-profit corporation is quite different than that of a hospital which is quite different that that of a university. The challenges of diversity in the workplace 1. 7 Popular Companies setting Inspiring Organizational Culture Examples. Examples of Cultural Differences in the Workplace. Typical Examples of cultural differences The perception is different and often selective: Expressions are differentiated according their importance: for the Inuits (Eskimos) snow is part of their everyday life, therefore many words (e. g. over 10 substantives) exist to describe it. What is diversity in the workplace? Examples of diversity initiatives. A workplace with a diverse range of ages, for example, may experience tension between workers of various generations. Every culture has rules that must be abided by in order to keep the workplace functioning and healthy. If we were to think though about why embracing or being explicit about celebrating diversity matters, I think we can put it in the following terms: it is about capturing talent, it is about boosting innovation, it is about encouraging productivity. Category: Workplace Diversity Posted: 12-09-2011 11:01 PM Views: 104210 Synopsis: The world is a colorfully diverse place and so are our workplaces. Cultural and personality differences exist in the workplace. Age diversity. 9. Work towards accommodating cultural difference . These differences can result in a variety of different types of tension in the workplace as well. Can’t Miss Quote: “Start small … If we had started out with the lofty expectations that we have for this year, we would not have realized the amount of work that goes into a reputable diversity and inclusion initiative. Sign up now for our diversity newsletter – get 2x monthly tips, tools and insights! Other differences include the perception of overtime, or even the exact meaning of a deadline. by Erich Toll. Here are a few of the top benefits of diversity in the workplace. Individuals from diverse backgrounds can offer a selection of different talents, skills, and experiences, that may be of benefit to the organization and their work performance. It increases the bottom line, jump starts innovation and keeps businesses out of legal jeopardy. And the only way to accommodate cultural difference is to recognize unconscious bias. Diversity in the workplace means that a company employs a wide range of diverse individuals.. You can tell the culture of an organization by looking at the arrangement of furniture, what they brag about, what members wear, etc. The gesture has a completely different connotation in Nigeria than it does in the US, and it’s considered very offensive in Nigeria! Economic globalization is one of the driving forces of cultural diversity in the workplace. So we’ve outlined a few examples of cultural differences in communication and how they become apparent in the workplace, along with some easy tips on how to better understand your international peers. There’s a diversity of facets to diversity training. Violators should face the consequences, regardless of their rank or title. Workplace Cultural Competence – 7 Essentials. 1) Talents, skills, and experiences. For example, they differ in the balance between work and family life, and the workplace mix between work and social behavior. Additionally, your employees’ individual work experiences, departments, and teams may view the culture differently. Diversity is an economic and legal priority in business. But in our increasingly global and mobile world, one of the most important is cultural competence. While there’s arguably an increase in awareness of the importance of diversity within the workplace, businesses need to move their thinking away from ‘it’s a nice to have’ and make it central to their working culture. This research needs to document different voices in the workforce, especially those that have been marginalized. Don’t underestimate the cultural value you can add to your workplace. Companies that ranked highly in gender, ethnic and cultural diversity were more likely to have above-average profitability than companies with less diversity. Advice for companies getting serious about diversity and inclusion. Too often we see businesses adopt a short-term focus on diversity in response to specific issues. Navigating the culture map within and between companies and organizations in a different country can throw any number of cultural tripwires at you. When companies recruit and retain a diverse pool of people, it brings about different benefits to the company as well as its employees. Cultural Intelligence and Its Importance in the Workplace Published on September 16, 2015 September 16, 2015 • 96 Likes • 7 Comments Diversity . Cultural diversity in the workplace is a result of practices, values, traditions, or beliefs of employees based on race, age, ethnicity, religion, or gender. A great organizational work culture is more than paychecks, fun, and perks. However, workplace diversity actually encompasses a range of cultural differences and dimensions, from ethnic and socioeconomic background to fundamental values and objectives. Entering the workplace is a different ballpark to simply skimming across the surface of a culture as a tourist, for example, and can change your outlook on the world forever. Being culturally aware is the backbone of communication and the foundation of respect, which is achieved by taking a step back and understanding that someone might have a different point of view because of their background. More than ever before, people are likely to work daily with people from other cultures. For example, avoid scheduling client lunches during a time of fasting or holding meetings during a time of prayer. The ability to manage both the group of people and merge them in a single working environment is known as age diversity. At Ceridian, we define diversity as a measure of difference in identity; things like gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, ability, or religion. Cultural differences can bring a wealth of learning opportunities as well as some complicated challenges and barriers among employees who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with one another’s unique cultures. The modern workforce is made up of people of different genders, ages, ethnicity, religions, and nationalities. Workplace diversity issues can arise in many situations. We have listed seven companies that are known for their fabulous work culture and listed what sets them apart. Your work culture often is interpreted differently by diverse employees. Researchers of cultural diversity in organizations must look to alternative theoretical perspectives, such as feminist theories, critical theories, and socio logical paradigms to identify the problematics and methodologies appropriate to future diversity studies. Although an organization has a common culture, each person may see that culture from a different perspective. Cultural diversity is a form of appreciating the differences in individuals. On other hand, they have a group of people who belong to the age category of 20’s to 40’s. Implementing diversity in the workplace is a huge commitment, and there’s no handbook you can just “borrow” from another organization. For example, one person may want to get the work done quickly (task oriented) and get on to the next thing as fast as possible. Managing emails and phone calls Other events in people’s lives affect how they act and interact at work too. Diversity and inclusion go hand-in-hand, and for diversity practices to be successful, you must facilitate an inclusive work culture. Similarly the Zulus use 39 different descriptions (singular words) for the color „green”. We have picked 3 examples which highlight the most common challenges people face when working across cultures. Cultural awareness is simply being aware of the many different cultures around you, whether it is in the workplace or at school. Age diversity means working with people of different ages and, most importantly, generations. — similar to what you can use to get a feeling about someone’s personality. While another person is more concerned about making sure that everyone has a say in how the work gets done (people oriented). This type of diversity refers to the presence of multiple religions and spiritual beliefs (including lack thereof) in the workplace. Inclusivity is the key to actually maintaining (not just creating) diversity in the workplace. Examples of Workplace Diversity Issues . Let us take an example to understand age diversity, XYZ is a company which has a group of people who belong to the age category of 40 to 70’s. 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