Encouraging and Protecting Diversity in the Workplace

 Posted on July 14, 2017 in Employment Law

Diversity in the workplace can offer varying perspectives, improve the company's image, and may even result in capital gains. However, many businesses struggle to achieve true diversity and those that do often struggle to protect it. Do things differently, avoid litigation, and ultimately improve your company's chances of success with help from the following.

Why Diversity is So Important

At first glance, diversity may not seem like the most important aspect of running a business. Instead, most owners focus their attention on things like recruiting experts in their field, reducing overhead costs, and creating a platform from which they can market - and yet these aspects of running a business often come naturally for those that support diversity. As an example, a business that strives to maintain ethnic diversity in the workplace may have a better understanding of cultural differences that may impact their sales and marketing strategies.

Encouraging Diversity in the Workplace

Diversity in the workplace is rarely accidental. Instead, it is done with intention. A business owner must consider what other groups of people can bring to the table. They must be willing to look at the cold, hard facts. They must look beyond the resume, and they cannot be swayed by charisma. Experience may become less about the jobs that a prospective employee has worked, and may become more about the potential. For example, you might consider hiring the white, male applicant with years of experience, but do not discount the homemaker that has spent the last ten years caring for her children.

Though the latter may need more training to ensure she is up to speed, she might also be better at multitasking than your male applicant. She may also have knowledge and experience that is difficult to communicate on a resume. Perhaps she has used accounting software and spreadsheets to maintain her household budgets and has some ideas on how your company could better utilize them. In short, before you hire anyone, be willing to ask probing questions, and always look at the whole picture - not just what is on the resume.

Protecting Diversity in the Workplace

Once you have achieved diversity in the workplace - or are well on your way - it is crucial that you know how to protect it. Workplace harassment, discrimination, resistance to change, and other challenges may arise along the way. Some of these issues could lead to a loss of valuable employees. Others may result in litigation. To decrease your risk of experiencing such consequences within your company, consider implementing the following:

• Anti-discrimination policies;
• Anti-harassment policies;
• Equal pay for all same-skill/same-job employees;
• An open-door policy for reporting harassment and discrimination;
• Policies that clearly and concisely convey the consequences of workplace harassment;
• Managerial training on workplace harassment; and
• Swift and attentive handling of all harassment complaints.

Contact Our DuPage County Business Law Attorneys

If your company is striving for diversity in the workplace and you need assistance with developing policies, employment contracts, and other anti-harassment procedures, contact Stock, Carlson & Asso. LLC for assistance. Our DuPage County business law attorneys can work with you to determine your goals, assist you in creating legally binding contracts and policies, and examine any situation involving potential litigation to ensure you have the support you need. Schedule your consultation by calling 630-665-2500 today.

Sources:

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-cbs-made-the-wrong-call-with-hawaii-five-0-contracts-2017-7

http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/diversity/diversity-in-the-workplace-benefits-challenges-solutions.asp