Topic 8 - Activity 9 - Workplace Diversity Blog

Diversity relates to sex, gender, age, language, ethnicity, cultural background, disability, sexual orientation, intersex status, religious beliefs, educational level, professional skills, work experience, socio-economic background, career obligations and/or other factors that make us unique. An employee's family, carer and other responsibilities, and the need to balance these with work, also contributes to the diversity of our workforce. Most departments take an intersectional approach to diversity and inclusion, and recognize people may identify with multiple diversity groups.

The importance of cultural diversity in Australia is extensive. Such as, the CALD meaning in Australia which has grown synonyms with its diversity.. It helps in 

• Stopping racial discrimination. 
• Developing and sustaining a positive public image. 
• Creating a healthy work culture. 
• Promoting innovation and creativity. 
• Upgrading work skills. 
• Supporting the local community and its economy. 
• Expanding new business ideas to new markets 
• Filling immediate job vacancies

Having a diverse and multicultural workplace brings several advantages. Since today’s world is increasingly more globalized and interconnected, workplaces should take advantage of the diverse range of skills individuals from different backgrounds and languages can bring. The top five benefits of workplace diversity include: 

• Increased productivity: A diverse workplace allows for more ideas and processes. This diversity of talent means a broader range of skills among employees, as well as a diversity of experiences and perspectives which increases the potential for increased productivity 
• Increased creativity: As various cultures and backgrounds work together, the opportunity for increased creativity exists. This is because there are more people with differing perspectives and solutions to problems, allowing for a greater chance of a workable solution to a workplace problem. 
• Improved cultural awareness: A diverse range of cultures within the workplace allows companies to deal with the different nuances within a global marketplace. If a company does business with China, for example, having an employee who can speak Mandarin is an asset and can lead to improved workplace relations. 
• A positive reputation: Companies that have a diverse workplace are often perceived as better employers. Potential employees want an employer who accepts and is tolerant of all backgrounds and who treats their employees fairly 
• Increase in marketing opportunities: If potential employees or customers see that a company represents a diverse workplace, it makes them feel like they can relate to the company more. Using advertising that depicts mature-aged, differently-abled, or ethnically diverse people encourages applicants to apply, promotes a positive reputation, increases marketplace awareness, and generates a more diverse client-base